Ismail Sabri arrives at court to face asset declaration charge

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob arrives at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today to face charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.

Ismail Sabri, 66, arrived at 8.32am accompanied by his officers.

Members of the media and supporters were seen at the court complex grounds as early as 7am

A check of the court system showed that the case against Ismail Sabri was scheduled for mention before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin at 9am.

The Bera Member of Parliament (MP) was expected to face a charge under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 regarding asset declaration.

The former prime minister was initially scheduled to be charged on Aug 7, but the proceedings were postponed to today after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) due to health issues.

Judge Suzana then postponed the case to today after Amer Hamzah sought an adjournment, saying Ismail Sabri was experiencing possible arrhythmia and was scheduled to undergo a pacemaker implantation procedure.

Ismail Sabri’s lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, said his client had experienced a heart problem while having his statement recorded by MACC on Aug 6.

The former prime minister had previously been called several times to have his statement recorded regarding the asset declaration made to MACC.

MACC also seized RM170 million in cash in various foreign currencies and confiscated 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7 million, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering involving the former prime minister.

The seizures were made during searches of a residence and an office allegedly used as ‘safe houses’, following investigations into four of Ismail Sabri’s senior officers who were detained in February last year. – BERNAMA