KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes that with the discharge of all of his 47 charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB), there will be no more politically-motivated charges.
Speaking to the media, Ahmad Zahid thanked those who had supported him, adding that their fight towards justice does not end here.
"My family and I are grateful that the court has discharged me of all 47 charges.
"The judge had decided to discharge me but it does not amount to an acquittal because there is still an ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry towards the book written by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and my lawyers have not finalised the representations.
"Our role in Umno and Barisan Nasional is to continue this fight to ensure a stop to all politically-motivated charges," he said, all smiles and clad in a dark-coloured suit.
Zahid expressed his gratitude to his family members, lawyers, Umno members and Barisan Nasional members who had given him their full support throughout the case.
The High Court today granted the deputy prime minister a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) of 12 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges, eight counts of bribery and 27 for money laundering, involving scores of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
Zahid hugged his supporters and family members who sat inside the packed courtroom when the proceedings ended.
He was accused of committing the offences between March 28, 2016, and April 11, 2018.