KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar's legal bid to challenge Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in his corruption case has been put on hold pending an appeal at the Federal Court.
High Court judge Datuk Azizan Md Arshad today allowed the Attorney-General (A-G)'s application to stay the judicial review proceedings initiated by the Bar.
Lawyer Datuk Guok Ngek Seong, representing the deputy prime minister, said the stay was granted following recent developments at the apex court.
"The judge allowed the application following developments at the Federal Court.
"No hearing date has been fixed for the appeal as we only filed the notice of appeal on Oct 19," he told reporters after the proceedings.
On Oct 8, the Federal Court granted Zahid and the A-G leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal decision allowing the Malaysian Bar to challenge the prosecution's decision to discontinue the corruption case.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1550311/updated-zahid-g-succeed-obtaining-apex-court-leave-appeal-dnaa-case
A three-member bench chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah ruled that the case raised novel constitutional issues of public importance that required clarification and a final determination by the apex court.
The other judges on the bench were Datuk Nordin Hassan and Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali.
On May 7, the Court of Appeal allowed the Malaysian Bar to initiate judicial review proceedings to challenge the prosecution's decision on Sept 4, 2023, to discontinue the case against Zahid.
The appellate court overturned the High Court's Oct 27, 2024, ruling, which dismissed the Malaysian Bar's application for leave to commence the proceedings.
In its judicial review application, the Malaysian Bar is seeking a declaration that the High Court's decision to grant Zahid a DNAA on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi was null and void.
The DNAA was granted on Sept 4, 2023, by then High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is now a Federal Court judge.
The DNAA means Zahid can still be charged again with the same offences.
Abhilaash Subramaniam appeared for the Malaysian Bar, while federal counsels Safiyyah Omar and Imtiyaz Wizni Aufa Othman represented the A-G.
Lawyer Mohd Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman also appeared for Zahid.
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