Judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa said the medical certificate (MC) submitted by the defence showed that Zahid is on sick leave until Sept 4.
He said the court had also taken judicial notice that Dr Mohd Shahir Anuar from Avisena Specialist Hospital in Shah Alam had appeared before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah to explain Zahid’s medical condition.
“Based on the content of the MC as prima facie evidence, the court accepts that the accused is not fit to return to duty until Sept 4.
“The court appreciates the commitment shown by the accused and asks that the same commitment be continued in the remaining days of the trial,” he said.
The judge then set Sept 28, Oct 22, Nov 18 and 19, and Dec 20 to 24, for the trial of the former deputy prime minister who is facing 40 corruption charges in connection with the visa system.
“The court would like to stress and remind all quarters that the dates have been agreed to by all parties involved and we ask for cooperation to enable the hearing to take place as scheduled. Any other postponement will not be allowed,” he said.
Earlier, Zahid’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh informed the court of his client’s latest medical condition and requested that the proceedings set for today and tomorrow be postponed as Zahid was still on sick leave.
“The defence would like to request that today’s proceedings be postponed to a new date as we believe our client should be fully prepared, physically and mentally, to attend the proceedings,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin requested that the accused obtain an MC from a government hospital.
“If possible, an MC from the ministry of health or from a government hospital. This is because MCs from some private hospitals have a footnote saying they cannot be used in court proceedings,” he said.
Nevertheless, Wan Shaharuddin thanked Zahid for his commitment to attend today’s proceeding.
Zahid, 68, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM42 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant and the then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of a one-stop centre in China as well as to maintain the agreement with the home ministry to supply integrated visa system paraphernalia to the same company.
Under another seven charges, Zahid was charged as home minister with accepting S$1,150,000 (RM3,545,000), RM3,000,000, €15,000 (RM75,663) and US$15,000 (RM62,115) in cash from the same company which he knew had a connection with his functions as the then home minister.