KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the corruption trial of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) wants to omit parts of a witness statement by his press secretary that "attacked" the credibility of the prosecution's star witness.

Major General (R) Datuk Fadzlette Othman Merican Idris Merican, the second defence witness to testify, could only warm up the witness bench at the High Court on Monday (Sept 19) morning without reading her witness statement as Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran stood up to object.

Although the written witness statement was not verbally read out in court, it was deemed as read.

The prosecution took issue with parts of Fadzlette's witness statement – paragraphs 16 to 31 – that touched on Ahmad Zahid's former executive secretary Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly and wanted those parts to be expunged.

DPP Raja Rozela said the statements were put in the witness statement to damage the character of Major Mazlina.

"But Major Mazlina's credibility has already been challenged during the defence's cross-examination," the prosecutor said.

DPP Raja Rozela said Section 153 of the Evidence Act 1950 should be applied in order to ensure evidence with regards to credibility, which has been raised before, cannot be raised again.

She said Major Mazlina's credibility as a witness was not the main issue in the trial as the trial's main subject was the charges against Ahmad Zahid.

"(Otherwise) there will be no end to collateral issues," she added.

According to DPP Raja Rozela, the High Court has the power to control evidence to be introduced through witness statements but they must remain relevant to the facts or issues in the trial.

She urged the court to reject the parts in Fadzlette's statement.

Ahmad Zahid's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik requested for the defence to be given time until Tuesday (Sept 20) morning to reply to the prosecution's objection.

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then adjourned the hearing to Tuesday (Sept 20) morning.

Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/09/19/prosecution-objects-to-parts-of-ahmad-zahid039s-press-sec039s-testimony