Former PM Ismail Sabri Arrives at KL Court Complex to Face MACC Asset Declaration Charge

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex this morning to face charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

Ismail Sabri, 66, arrived at 8:32 am accompanied by his officers, while media personnel and supporters gathered outside the court complex grounds from as early as 7:00 am.

According to court records, the case against the Bera Member of Parliament is scheduled for mention before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin at 9:00 am. He is expected to face a charge under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 regarding the declaration of assets.

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

Judge Suzana granted the adjournment after defence lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that Ismail Sabri was experiencing possible arrhythmia and was scheduled to undergo a pacemaker implantation procedure. Amer Hamzah noted that his client experienced heart complications while having his statement recorded by anti-graft officers on Aug 6.

Ismail Sabri had previously been summoned on multiple occasions by the MACC to have his statement recorded regarding asset declarations.

As part of the wider investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering involving the former prime minister, the MACC seized RM170 million in foreign cash and 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7 million. The items were confiscated during searches of a residence and an office allegedly operated as safe houses following the arrest of four of Ismail Sabri’s senior officers in February last year.

–NMT