KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has postponed Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption trial involving Yayasan Akalbudi to January next year.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah vacated the remaining four days this month for the hearing.
Ahmad Zahid's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik earlier informed the court that an interlocutory appeal in the case is fixed for hearing at the Court of Appeal on Nov 14.
The appeal is on Ahmad Zahid's application to obtain recorded statements of 15 witnesses from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in the YAB corruption case that was dismissed by Justice Sequerah on May 9.
Hisyam requested for the court to vacate the hearing on Wednesday (Nov 2) and Thursday (Nov 3), as well as on Nov 9 and Nov 10, pending the outcome of the Nov 14 appeal.
He said the decision by the Court of Appeal would assist the defence in determining the number and sequence of witnesses.
"There are quite a number of witnesses being offered to the defence which we will focus upon.
"But we will need guidance from the Court of Appeal with regards to whether we are able to get their statements or otherwise.
"So, we are in a dilemma. In the name of fairness, we ask the court to wait for the outcome of Nov 14," Hisyam said here on Wednesday.
Hisyam also told the court that a witness from Bagan Datuk who was supposed to testify on Wednesday was unwell and the defence did not have any other witnesses to call for the time being.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob did not object to the request for a postponement.
"We leave it to the court," he said.
Justice Sequerah then fixed a 21-day hearing between January and May next year.
The new dates are Jan 16 - Jan 19, Jan 30, Jan 31, Feb 7 to Feb 9, March 27 to March 30, April 10 to April 13, and May 15 to May 18.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges, involving 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight charges for corruption and 27 for money laundering, involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charitable foundation he founded.
On Feb 18, the defence filed an application to obtain the statements of the 15 witnesses.
The defence sought the statements of witnesses, including Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi, who is the brother of Ahmad Zahid, as Mohamad Nasaee's statement was important to the 11th charge faced by Ahmad Zahid.
On May 9, Justice Sequerah dismissed Ahmad Zahid's application for the statements and the appeal against the decision will be heard by the Court of Appeal on Nov 14.
