PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi now no longer needs the court's permission to travel abroad.
This came after a Court of Appeal ruling today which allowed his review application to obtain his passport permanently.
The three-member panel, led by Judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah, allowed the application after being satisfied that the court had jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Zahid, who is Umno president, filed the review application after the High Court dismissed his application last month.
His passport was seized by the High Court after he was charged with multiple corruption charges involving his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob, who appeared for the prosecution, said he was instructed not to object to the application.
Meanwhile, Zahid's counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, when met outside the courtroom, said his client's RM2 million bail imposed by the High Court previously was maintained.
On Feb 3, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who was elevated to the appellate court recently, dismissed Zahid's application but allowed for the document to be temporarily returned to Zahid to allow him to apply for a diplomatic passport.
Sequerah, in his decision, said the Federal Constitution stipulates that all persons are equal before the law and there shall be no privilege, person or class above the law.
Zahid in his application had argued that it would be inconvenient for him to apply for the release of his passport every time he needs to perform official duties that require travelling.
Zahid, 70, is facing 47 charges, including 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering, involving RM31 million of Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
For the 12 criminal breach of trust charges, he is alleged to have used the funds to make payments for personal credit cards, insurance policies and licences for his personal vehicles, remittances to a law firm and contributions to the police football association.
The charge carries up to 20 years' jail, whipping and a fine.