KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Proceedings against former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, which were scheduled to take place today, have been postponed to August 27 due to health issues.
Ismail Sabri was earlier reported to be receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur.
Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin adjourned the reading of the charges and the recording of Ismail Sabri's plea after his counsel, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, applied to postpone the proceedings, informing the court that his client is currently at IJN.
Amer Hamzah said Ismail Sabri developed health complications yesterday while giving his statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and was subsequently taken to IJN.
“The matter was brought to the attention of the MACC officer handling the statement-recording process, and it was then that he (Ismail Sabri) had to be rushed to IJN.
“The attending doctor confirmed that our client had possible arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), which requires further investigation,” Amer Hamzah said.
He added that Ismail Sabri was scheduled to undergo a pacemaker procedure this afternoon and was expected to be warded for several days.
In view of this, he said the defence had applied for the reading of the charges, the recording of the plea and related matters, including bail, to be postponed to another date.
“We also applied for Aug 27 to be set as the new date. As our client remains under MACC bail, there is no issue of him absconding. The court is also welcome to visit him if necessary,” he said.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan informed the court that the prosecution had filed the charges against Ismail Sabri and obtained consent to prosecute.
Based on the court schedule, the Bera Member of Parliament was scheduled to be charged at Criminal Sessions Court 14 today under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 in connection with the declaration of assets.
On humanitarian grounds
Farah Ezlin said that as Ismail Sabri is currently under MACC bail and his health condition did not permit him to appear in court today, it was appropriate, on humanitarian grounds, for the prosecution not to object to the application.
“We agree that once he is discharged from hospital and confirmed to be in good health, the charges can be read and his plea recorded. Aug 27 is a suitable date,” she said.
At today's proceedings, Farah Ezlin was assisted by deputy public prosecutors Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin and Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar, while Amer Hamzah was assisted by lawyers Datuk Seri Rajan Navaratnam, Ragunath Kesavan, Joshua Tay, Tan Xu Yin, Aswath Ramakhrisnan and Sanjey G. Sangkar.
Previously, Ismail Sabri, 66, had been called in several times to have his statement recorded regarding the declaration of assets he made to the MACC.
The MACC also seized RM170 million in cash in various foreign currencies and confiscated 16 kilogrammes of gold bullion estimated to be worth RM7 million in connection with its investigation into corruption and money laundering.
The seizures were made during searches of residences and offices believed to have been used as safe houses, following investigations into four of Ismail Sabri's senior officers who were arrested in February 2025.
