KUALA LUMPUR – The lead prosecutor in Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Yayasan Akalbudi graft case has opted for early retirement, said Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
Because of this, Idrus said deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran will no longer lead the prosecution team in Zahid’s case.
In a statement, the AG added that Raja Rozela had applied for early retirement on April 3 that would come into effect on November 1, while she applied to go on leave from August 30 onwards.
As Zahid’s trial dates go on until December, Idrus said dropping Raja Rozela as lead prosecutor in the case will ensure continuity.
Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar has been chosen to replace her, as he has almost 30 years of experience as a deputy public prosecutor. He is currently heading the Appellate and Trial Division, which manages cases involving the Federal Court and Court of Appeal.
Among his high-profile cases is the Lahad Datu intrusion.
Idrus has been criticised for removing Raja Rozela and urged to provide an explanation to the public.
Zahid, who is also Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, is facing 47 charges in this trial.
The 47 charges are – 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to over RM31 million of charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges totalling over RM21.25 million in alleged bribes.
The 12 counts of criminal breach of trust are in relation to the alleged misappropriation of Yayasan Akalbudi funds – RM1.3 million via 43 cheques for his and his wife’s credit card bills; RM107,509.55 via three cheques for vehicle insurance and road tax for 20 privately-owned vehicles; a RM1.3 million cheque to the police’s football association; a RM10 million cheque for a loan to Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd; RM360,000 via two cheques to political consultancy firm TS Consultancy & Resources; and over RM17.9 million of funds transferred from Yayasan Akalbudi to law firm Lewis & Co. – August 8, 2023