Malaysia ex-deputy PM charged with graft, money laundering

19/10/2018 18:27

        Malaysia's former deputy prime minister was charged Friday with abuse of power, corruption and money laundering involving millions of dollars in another graft investigation against leaders ousted in elections earlier this year.
        
        Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who now leads the opposition after his party was defeated in the May general elections, was brought to court a day after he was detained by the anti-graft agency.
        
        Zahid pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of criminal breach of trust involving nearly 21 million ringgit ($5 million) in his family-run welfare group, eight counts of abusing power as home minister to receive bribes worth over 21 million ringgit for various projects including the supply of passport chips, and another 27 counts of laundering about 72 million ringgit ($17.3 million).