Ismail Sabri set to face charge over asset declaration tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is set to face charges at Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court the following day under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act. His lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, has confirmed to Bernama that Ismail Sabri will appear in court tomorrow at 9 am before Judge Suzana Hussin.

The Bera MP is expected to be charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which pertains to the declaration of assets. The proceedings were initially set for Aug 7 but were postponed to Aug 27 after the former prime minister was admitted to the National Heart Institute due to health concerns. Judge Suzana further delayed the case to Aug 27 upon receiving an adjournment request from Amer Hamzah, citing Ismail Sabri's potential arrhythmia and a scheduled pacemaker procedure.

The postponement came after Ismail Sabri had experienced a heart problem during the recording of his statement by MACC on Aug 6. The former prime minister had previously been summoned multiple times to provide a statement concerning the asset declaration to MACC. During the investigation into corruption and money laundering allegations involving Ismail Sabri, MACC seized RM170 million in foreign currency cash and confiscated 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7 million.

These seizures were conducted at a residence and an office believed to be used as 'safe houses,' following the detention of four of Ismail Sabri's senior officers in February of the previous year.