Former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari appeared before an anti-corruption court on Thursday over multi-million-dollar graft allegations dating back to the 1990s.
The cases against Zardari relate to kickbacks, money-laundering and the illegal construction of a polo ground at the prime minister's official residence, during his slain wife Benazir Bhutto's two stints as premier.
As president, Zardari enjoyed immunity from prosecution, but this ended when he stepped down in September last year after five years in office.
After a brief session, the hearing was adjourned to January 18.
Defence lawyer Amjad Iqbal Qureshi told reporters the evidence against the former president was flimsy.
"He could not be indicted in the polo ground case because we argued that charges cannot be framed against him as there are no witnesses against him," Qureshi said.
"We hope that he will be acquitted in this and other cases as well."
Dozens of supporters of Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) greeted him at the court in a leafy residential area of Islamabad, chanting slogans and waving placards.
His appearance came as his predecessor as president, General Pervez Musharraf, faces trial for treason.
Another hearing was due in Musharraf's case on Thursday but he has not yet appeared before the special tribunal due to security fears and ill-health.
Zardari's aides were keen to contrast their man's willingness to submit to the courts with what they see as the evasiveness of Musharraf -- who many PPP supporters hold responsible for Bhutto's assassination in 2007.
"This is the difference between an elected civilian president and a military dictator," Zardari's spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar told AFP.
"The civilian former president is appearing in court respecting its orders, while the military dictator is running away from court," Babar said.
Zardari's lawyer Farooq Naek said his client's presence was necessary in the court to wrap up the cases as all of his co-accused have been acquitted or died.
The probe includes corruption allegations relating to customs contracts given to two Swiss companies that were behind a long-running tussle between the Supreme Court and the PPP-led government, which lost office in May's general election.
For more than two years PPP ministers refused to write to the Swiss to ask them to reopen their probe into claims Zardari and Bhutto laundered $12 million worth of bribes.
In June Swiss prosecutors refused to reopen the cases, saying no new evidence had emerged since they were dropped in 2008 and in any event the statute of limitations had expired.
AFP
Thu Jan 09 2014
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
Inisiatif IHH Healthcare lancar pemasangan panel solar wajar jadi contoh - Fadillah Yusof
IHH Healthcare Malaysia mencatatkan pencapaian baharu dengan melancarkan inisiatif pemasangan panel solar di seluruh rangkaian hospitalnya sekali gus menjadikannya pelopor.
Che'gu Bard akan didakwa di Johor Bahru esok
Che'gu Bard berkata, ia dipercayai berhubung kenyataannya mengenai isu kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah kepada Farah Ain
Ahmad Zahid mengucapkan tahniah kepada atlet boling padang Nor Farah Ain Abdullah yang muncul juara pada Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia 2024.
Raih RM31 juta sejak ditayangkan! Sheriff kini filem no. 1 di Malaysia
Berita gembira ini turut disokong oleh abang Syafiq, Syamsul Yusof yang turut bangga dengan kejayaan naskhah yang dihasilkan adiknya.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: PDRM tingkat kawalan keselamatan sempadan Malaysia-Thailand
PDRM mempertingkatkan kawalan keselamatan di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand susulan insiden letupan bom dan bunyi tembakan di Sungai Golok.
Pemain ragbi meninggal dunia selepas perlawanan pasukan pilihan MB Kedah
Seorang bekas pemain Sukma Kedah meninggal dunia selepas menyertai perlawanan pertunjukan pasukan pilihan Menteri Besar Kedah pada Ahad.
OCC: Masih banyak usaha perlu dibuat dalam isu hak kanak-kanak
Masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan kerana Malaysia masih ketinggalan berbanding negara lain dalam menangani isu penderaan dan masalah sosial melibatkan kanak-kanak.
iPad Pro mungkin dijana dengan cip Apple M4 terbaharu, fokus ciri AI
Cip Apple M4 dijangka memfokuskan kepada keupayaan enjin neural yang disertakan bersama dengannya membolehkan ia menawarkan ciri AI yang lebih baik.
Lebih 840,000 permohonan untuk London Marathon 2025 pecah rekod dunia
Jumlah permohonan untuk menyertai larian TCS London Marathon tahun depan telah memecahkan rekod dunia.
Asif Ali Zardari dipilih sebagai Presiden Pakistan buat kali kedua
Ahli perniagaan dan veteran politik Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari pada Sabtu dipilih sebagai presiden negara itu buat kali kedua.
Pengundian pilihan raya Presiden Pakistan bermula
Proses pengundian bagi pilihan raya presiden Pakistan antara dua calon, termasuk bekas Presiden Asif Ali Zardari, bermula pada Sabtu.
Presiden Pakistan menggesa kerajaan memerangi isu militant
Asif Ali Zardari menyampaikan ucapan terakhirnya di parlimen sebelum melepaskan jawatan Presiden Pakistan.
Presiden Pakistan lawat Malala di hospital
Presiden Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari melawat Malala Yousafzai di Hospital Queen Elizabeth di Birmingham.