Malaysian ex-deputy PM charged with money laundering, graft

(Oct 19): Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was charged on Friday with 45 criminal offences including money laundering and graft, the state news agency reported, amid a widening crackdown on corruption.

Ahmad Zahid leads the opposition as president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the once-powerful party that ruled Malaysia for 60 years before being ousted in a shock general election defeat in May.

He is the latest former high-ranking official to be charged for suspected graft, as authorities ramp up investigations into how billions of dollars allegedly went missing from state coffers.

---

Related Stories

• Value of assets seized as part of money laundering probe increases to $2.4 billion
• KJ and Noh Omar among 44 sacked by Umno; Hishammuddin, Shahril Sufian among four suspended
• MAS steps up enforcement actions against market abuse and financial misconduct

---