By Tarani Palani | The Edge Malaysia
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will not be charged on Friday as he has been admitted into National Heart Institute (IJN).
Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin allowed the defence’s application to postpone the charge with Ismail suffering from arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart, and is scheduled to undergo a procedure on Friday afternoon.
“In light of the accused’s health condition, the court allows the charges and recording of plea to be postponed to Aug 27,” she said.
During Friday’s brief proceedings, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, leading the prosecution team, informed the charges have been filed.
Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, leading the defence team, then informed the court that his client was rushed to IJN on Thursday night while he was giving his statement to the MACC.
He also said that his client is scheduled for a procedure later Friday afternoon.
“We can confirm that the charges have been filed. We would like to inform (the court) that yesterday, while he was at the MACC headquarters recording his statement, he experienced health issues which were immediately communicated to the relevant MACC officers. They are aware of the situation.
“From there, he had to be rushed to IJN,” he said.
He added: “This morning, the doctor in charge confirmed that our client suffers from a health condition — arrhythmia. On the way to court, we reconfirmed with our client that he is scheduled to undergo a medical procedure this afternoon at 2:00pm”.
Given that his client will take some time to recover, Amer requested for the charges to be read and the subsequent recording of plea to be held on Aug 27.
DPP Farah said that the prosecution had no objections on humanitarian grounds.
Based on the court’s list on Friday, the charge was registered under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act, which concerns compliance with MACC’s notice.
Ismail to undergo pacemaker procedure
Speaking to the press, Amer confirmed that his client will undergo a “pacemaker procedure”, however he did not elaborate further.
He also said that Ismail had suffered a fall two weeks ago and was admitted at Pantai Hospital. Amer also revealed that his client had a scheduled appointment at IJN next Monday.
Former Bar president Ragunath Kesavan, who is also one of Ismail’s defence counsel, said that his client was at the MACC headquarters from 9am till 6pm on Thursday. Ragunath was present at the session on Thursday.
Charges outside of court depends on court’s green light
The Edge understands that there have been occasions where the charging takes place outside of the court’s vicinity.
The prosecution can apply for permission to charge an accused anywhere but ultimately, it is on the court’s discretion to allow such requests.
Long investigations and forfeiture application on RM169 mil cash
Last October, the Sessions Court ordered over RM169 million in cash, allegedly linked to Ismail and his former political secretary Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus, to be forfeited to the Malaysian government.
Judge Suzana made the order, given that the ex-PM and his aide did not contest the prosecution’s application and there were no third-party claims to the monies which were seized by the MACC.
MACC filed the forfeiture application for over RM169 million in cash allegedly belonging to Ismail, seized from Mohammad Anuar, to the Malaysian government. The sum includes RM14.77 million in Malaysian currency; S$6.13 million, US$1.46 million, three million Swiss francs, €12.16 million, ¥363 million, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34.75 million Emirati dirhams, and A$352,850.
The application came after graftbusters were satisfied that the money kept by Mohammad Anuar belonged to Ismail and was linked to an offence under the MACC Act.
Four senior aides of the former prime minister were arrested in February last year, leading to raids on homes and offices believed to be used as “safe houses” for the investigation.
Apart from the cash, the MACC also seized 16kg of gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7 million, in connection with the corruption and money laundering investigation involving Ismail.
Edited by Isabelle Francis & Jason Ng
