The High Court today rejected the Malaysian Bar’s application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings to challenge the attorney-general’s (AG) decision to discontinue the corruption case brought against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Justice Amarjeet Singh also dismissed the Bar’s application to refer several legal questions on Zahid’s case to the Federal Court.

“The subject matter is not amenable to judicial review. (The AG) also has no duty to furnish the documents (pertaining to the investigations into the case) to the Bar,” the judge said.

Lawyer Steven Thiru appeared for the Bar while senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan and Ahmad Hanir Hambaly represented the AG.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh represented the deputy prime minister.

Last year, another High Court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over 47 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

The AG had sought the DNAA premised on representations made by Zahid’s defence team to the prosecution which claimed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was still investigating developments in the case.

In its application last year, the Bar sought leave to quash the AG’s decision to seek a DNAA, claiming it was “unreasonable and tainted with irrationality”.

The Bar wanted the court to compel the AG to disclose all information it had relied on and the basis of his decision to seek the conditional discharge.