More than 80 Ismail Sabri supporters travel three hours from Bera to KL court complex

Almost 80 supporters of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob converged outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Tuesday morning to show their backing for him. Liza, a 42-year-old resident of Bera, Pahang, explained that her group had travelled on two buses that departed early in the morning from their hometown.

Most of the protestors were members of the Bera Umno division. The supporters began preparing their journey at 3am and arrived at the capital after a three-hour ride by bus, with some travelling by personal vehicle. Ismail Sabri, 66, and the Bera MP, arrived at the Sessions Court at 8:32am to face charges brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The hearing is set to continue at 9am before Judge Suzana Hussin. The former prime minister is accused of violating Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which relates to asset declaration. Ismail Sabri was originally set to face charges on August 7, but the hearing was postponed after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for health concerns.

The MACC had previously seized RM170 million in cash from various foreign currencies and confiscated 16kg of pure gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7 million, during searches of his residences and a property believed to be a "safe house" in connection with an ongoing corruption and money-laundering investigation involving him.