KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court was packed with supporters, party members and media on Friday (Aug 28) morning as former human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan arrived to face corruption charges.
Saravanan arrived at the court complex at 8.26am, dressed in a dark suit and appearing calm as he made his way into the courtroom.
The 58-year-old later took a seat in the front row of the public gallery alongside MIC president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran.
The courtroom's public gallery was filled with Saravanan's supporters, while others who gathered outside were turned away.
Proceedings before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi are scheduled to begin at 9am, with entry restricted to those holding court passes.
Security was also tightened around the court complex, with a heavy police presence and access limited to those with court-related business following the closure of the main entry and exit gates.
Saravanan is expected to face charges under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, which pertains to soliciting, receiving, giving, promising or offering bribes.
The case is understood to be linked to the recruitment of foreign workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022.
Saravanan has denied wrongdoing and maintained that the allegations against him are baseless.
He has also said he had no authority over the approval of foreign worker applications and that the investigation had previously been classified as no further action in 2023.
He is expected to plead to the charges before the Sessions Court.
