KUALA LUMPUR: Former Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin, was supposed to have been brought to court on charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
However, the prosecution against him has been postponed by the MACC as Daim is undergoing treatment at a private hospital for undisclosed health issues.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that they have obtained permission from the Attorney General's Chambers to prosecute the former senior minister since last week.
He expressed disappointment with the doctor treating Daim, who he said failed to inform MACC investigators why the former minister is considered unable to attend court.
"We obtained approval to prosecute Daim a week ago. When investigators informed his lawyer that Daim needed to appear in court, the lawyer informed the MACC that Daim had been admitted to a private hospital.
We conducted checks and found that Daim was indeed admitted to the hospital before we obtained approval to prosecute. However, as of today, we cannot ascertain why he was admitted to the hospital because the doctor treating him did not disclose what was wrong with Daim," he said.
Azam said Daim is expected to face at least one charge for failing to declare several properties jointly owned with his wife.
He said, based on Daim's situation, the MACC could also bring a judge to the hospital where he is located so that the charges can be read.
However, Azam added that is not their first choice unless the situation requires it.