Her lawyer Jagjit Singh told High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that Rosmah was unwell and her doctor had issued a medical certificate on Feb 2 which stated that she was unfit to attend court.
“She is suffering from pain in the neck and arthritis,” he said, describing it as a “life-threatening condition”.
The lawyer also tendered Rosmah’s medical report to the court that said she was treated yesterday at KPJ Ampang Puteri Hospital for “severe recurrent neck pain with upper limb radiculopathy”.
Jagjit also asked the court to adjourn her trial for this week.
Ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, however, objected to the medical certificate tendered in court as it was not issued by a government doctor.
“This is a last-minute attempt by her to stay away from court.
“She is suffering from an overdose of publicity and wealth,” Sri Ram said, adding that he too suffered from neck and leg pain.
Sri Ram also asked the court to revoke bail and for Rosmah to be kept in prison so she could attend court.
Zaini then said that he sympathised with Rosmah’s situation but said the trial dates were precious to him.
The court granted an adjournment for today and Tuesday but the hearing will begin on Wednesday.
“I will allow her to sit on a wheelchair instead of in the dock and will stand the trial down if she is in pain,” he added.
Last year, Rosmah claimed trial to one count of soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi Abang Samsudin, managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, as an inducement to help the company secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The education ministry project was worth a total of RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations.
She was also charged with two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Saidi.
Rosmah was charged under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act. The penalty is imprisonment for up to 20 years, fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Her former aide, Rizal Mansor, was supposed to have been tried with her but the prosecution withdrew the charges against him last month.