KUALA LUMPUR: With news that former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was to be charged, dozens of journalists and photographers gathered outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex as early as 7am.
They had to go back disappointed.
Court proceedings were postponed as Ismail Sabri was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN), where he has undergone a procedure to install a pacemaker.
Plans to read the charges to him at the hospital were also scrapped after an application by the defence.
The charges against the Bera MP had been scheduled to be read out in the Sessions Court yesterday, but the defence applied for a postponement on medical grounds.
Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin allowed the application and fixed Aug 27 at 9am for the reading of the charges and recording of Ismail Sabri’s plea.
“Considering the accused’s health condition, and upon the defence’s application, which has been agreed to by the prosecution, the court allows the reading of the charges and recording of the plea to be carried out on Aug 27 at 9am,” she said.
Defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad thanked the prosecution for not objecting to the application.
He said Ismail Sabri began experiencing health complications while his statement was being recorded at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on Thursday.
“This was made known to the MACC officers and they were aware of his condition.
“Our client was then rushed to IJN where the doctor-in-charge confirmed that he had experienced complications, including a possible arrhythmia,” he said.
Amer Hamzah said Ismail Sabri would remain warded for observation following the procedure.
“Because of this, it was not practical for the charge to be read out at IJN. We explained the situation to the court and the prosecution,” he told reporters later.
Amer Hamzah also revealed that Ismail Sabri had suffered a fall about two weeks ago and was admitted to Pantai Hospital, with a follow-up appointment at IJN initially scheduled for Aug 10.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan said the prosecution did not object to the application for postponement as Ismail Sabri’s health issues made it impossible for him to be in court.
“It is only fair, on humanitarian grounds, that we do not object to this application. We have also agreed that Aug 27 will be a suitable date, once he is discharged and fit to take the plea,” she said.
The journalists who gathered outside the court waited for several hours before they were informed that Ismail Sabri would not be attending court.
Attention then shifted to IJN, where dozens of media personnel had also gathered since about 7.30am awaiting updates on Ismail Sabri’s condition.
According to reports, the case against him is believed to be related to the declaration of assets.
He had previously been summoned on multiple occasions to record his statement regarding his asset declaration to the MACC.
The MACC previously seized RM170mil in cash in foreign currencies and 16kg of pure gold bullion, valued at RM7mil, during an investigation.
The seizures were carried out during raids on properties, following the February 2025 arrests of four of Ismail Sabri’s senior officers.
IJN issued a statement later in the day stating that Ismail Sabri successfully underwent the procedure and that he has been advised to rest. “Visitation will therefore be limited to close family members to support his recovery and ensure his privacy,” it said.
