Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the 12 charges were very clear for the accused to prepare his defence.

“Moreover, Section 153 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code does not make it mandatory for the prosecution to combine the charges,” he said.

The deputy head of the prosecution division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Raja Rozela Raja Toran, appeared for the prosecution while Hisyam Teh Poh Teik represented Zahid.

Zahid, the Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP, who was present in court today, filed the application on Sept 24.

In her submission earlier today, Raja Rosela said this was a delay tactic adopted by the defence to stall the trial scheduled for Nov 18.

The prosecution is expected to produce about 60 witnesses.

Between Oct 19 last year and Feb 20 this year, Zahid pleaded not guilty to a total of 47 charges, comprising 12 charges of CBT, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akal Budi.

He was granted bail of RM2 million with one surety and was ordered to surrender his passport to the court.

Later, Raja Rozela told reporters that Zahid had filed an application to challenge the constitutionality of a number of provisions in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

She said the application was filed in late October.

Sequerah has fixed Nov 18 to hear the application and ordered the prosecution and defence to file in their submissions on Nov 15.