KUALA LUMPUR – The legal battle surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has entered a decisive phase as he seeks a total discharge and acquittal (DAA) from 47 charges involving the misappropriation of funds from his family-run foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi.
The application, which was heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on February 24, 2026, represents the defense’s final move to achieve permanent legal closure. This follows years of high-profile proceedings that have significant implications for both the national political landscape and the Malaysian judiciary.
The application for a full acquittal was formally initiated by Ahmad Zahid’s lead counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik. The defense’s primary argument hinges on a crucial statement released by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on January 8, 2026. In that statement, the AGC declared the status of the case as “No Further Action” (NFA), citing a lack of sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Hisyam Teh argued that since the prosecution no longer intends to pursue the charges, his client is entitled to a full acquittal. He emphasized that it is legally and morally unfair for Ahmad Zahid to remain under a “cloud of suspicion” caused by a Discharge Not Amounting to an Acquittal (DNAA), a status that has been in place since September 2023.
The case against the UMNO President involves a total of 47 charges: 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering. The allegations center on the claim that millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi—a foundation established to assist the underprivileged—were used for personal purposes, including credit card payments and insurance policies.
While the High Court had previously ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Ahmad Zahid, the trial took a dramatic turn in late 2023. At that time, the prosecution applied for the DNAA, stating that more time was required for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate new leads.
The hearing for the full acquittal was originally set for earlier this month but was rescheduled to February 24 to allow the prosecution team to file their responding affidavit. The court needed to ensure that all procedural requirements were met before deciding whether to upgrade the current DNAA status to a full acquittal.
The outcome of this application is highly anticipated. A full acquittal would mean that Ahmad Zahid could not be recharged for the same offenses under the principle of double jeopardy, effectively bringing a complete end to the legal saga that began in 2018.
As of Tuesday morning, the court is expected to deliberate on the submissions from both parties. If the court grants the order, it will mark the final exoneration of the Deputy Prime Minister, clearing his record of all 47 counts related to the foundation’s funds.
