KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has postponed proceedings involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to Aug 27.
Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin fixed the date for the reading of the charges and recording of Ismail Sabri's plea, which will take place at 9am on that day.
“Considering the accused's health condition, and upon request by the defence counsel which has been agreed on by the prosecution, the court allows for this proceeding involving the reading of charges and recording of plea to be carried out at 9am on Aug 27,” she said on Friday (Aug 7).
Defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad recorded the defence team’s appreciation to the prosecution team for understanding their client’s situation.
He said Ismail Sabri had already experienced health complications when his statement was recorded at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on Thursday (Aug 6).
“This information had also been made known to the relevant MACC officers and they were aware of his condition at the time. .
“Our client was then rushed to the National Heart Institute (IJN) and upon admission, we obtained a confirmation by the doctor-in-charge that our client experienced complications, and possible arrhythmia,” he said.
He said they have also been informed that Ismail Sabri is expected to undergo a medical procedure later this afternoon.
“He will definitely have to be warded for several days and his condition needs to be monitored. We are making an application for a later date to be fixed, and hopefully by then, he will be fit and ready to enter a plea in court,” he said.
Amer Hamzah added that Ismail Sabri is still under MACC bail and that there are no concerns of him absconding.
“In fact, he will only be at IJN and the court is welcome to pay him a courtesy visit,” he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan said the prosecution did not object to the application for postponement as Ismail Sabri’s health did not warrant the former prime minister’s presence in court.
“It is only fair, on humanitarian grounds, that we do not object to this application. We have also agreed that once he is discharged and fit to take the plea, Aug 27 will be a suitable date,” she said.
