SHAH ALAM: A former Lembaga Tabung Haji chief operating officer who is supposed to be charged at the Sessions Court here on Thursday (Sept 3) did not appear in court due to health issues.
His lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin informed judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud that his client, Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani, has been admitted to the hospital for chest pains since Aug 31.
"We have passed the doctor's note to the court for its perusal. At the moment, the accused is not fit to be discharged," Wan Azwan said, adding that the accused's wife was present in court.
Judge Awang Kerisnada then invited Adi's wife, Datin Zureen Zainuddin, to come forward to explain to the court.
Zureen said that her husband is currently undergoing an angiogram at the Universiti Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) after experiencing chest pains last weekend.
"After the pain became frequent, the doctor advised him to be admitted. I do not know how long he will be in the hospital as it depends on his test results," she said.
Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin told the court that the prosecution did not intend to push the charging proceedings.
"However I leave it to the discretion of the court," DPP Muaz said.
Judge Awang Kerisnada said that he accepted the wife's explanation over the situation.
"The court can go to the hospital to carry out the charging, but I think it is not feasible this time. The situation is a little bit serious.
"The right thing to do is to let the accused rest in hospital and fix another date," he said.
Wan Azwan said the defence appreciated the compassion shown by the court.
Judge Awang Kerisnada then fixed Sept 24 for the next mention.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened up a total of 14 investigation papers following the RCI report on the TH mismanagement.
MACC had made 17 arrests during the investigations, with 10 suspects remanded thus far.
Among the 11 people arrested as part of the investigations were the former investment director of Tabung Haji, the director of Putrajaya Perdana, the former director of Putra Perdana Construction, the former chairman of Tabung Haji, the Alam Maritim CEO, and a former federal minister.
