KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has issued a subpoena for the attending doctor who is treating Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to explain the latter's medical condition.

       Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah issued the subpoena for the doctor from Avisena Specialist Hospital in Shah Alam after the court was informed that Ahmad Zahid was unable to attend his corruption trial here on Tuesday (Aug 24).

       Tuesday had been fixed for submissions in the case.

       Ahmad Zahid's lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had submitted a hospital letter to the court and said that the Umno president was admitted to the hospital from Sunday (Aug 22) after suffering a fall, which affected his spine.

       "According to the letter, due to the severity of the pain, my client would not be able to sit for a long time.

       "And for that reason he is not coming this morning as he has a pain prevention procedure to go through," he added.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, meanwhile, told the court that the prosecution was ready for submission but had concerns over Ahmad Zahid's absence.

       "We have gone through a lot of postponement for this case but our main concern is that the accused is not present.

       "We leave it to the court to decide whether we can proceed online or proceed without the accused present," she said.

       The prosecutor added that it was important to consider Ahmad Zahid's presence as the prosecution did not want the court to be seen as denying the accused his rights to be heard in court.

       DPP Raja Rozela also suggested for the court to hear from the doctor himself as to what the prognosis for Ahmad Zahid involved and how it would affect his recovery.

       Justice Sequerah said the court needed to know what was meant by "pain intervention procedure" and agreed to subpoena the doctor.

       "We want some certainty on the recovery. We can't afford any more delays. I want to finish this case this year.

       "This is a 2019 case and now it is already 2021. I don't want it to spill over to next year," he said.

       The court then issued a subpoena for the doctor to appear before the court at 3.30pm Wednesday (Aug 25).

       On Oct 19 and Dec 14, 2018, and Feb 20, 2019, Ahmad Zahid claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a total of 47 charges, 12 of which are for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for bribery and 27 for money laundering involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

       For the 12 CBT charges, Ahmad Zahid is accused of having used the funds to make payments for personal credit cards, insurance policies and personal vehicle licences, remittances to a law firm and contributions to the Royal Malaysia Police football association.

       He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Affin Bank Bhd branch in Jalan Bunus off Jalan Masjid India here between Jan 13, 2014, and Dec 23, 2016.

       The 68-year-old Bagan Datuk MP is also charged with eight counts of receiving bribes from three companies as an inducement for him, in his capacity as the then home minister, to help the companies obtain MyEG projects, for the supply of passport chips and to be appointed the operator of migrant visa one-stop centres in Pakistan and Nepal, respectively.

       He was accused of having committed all the offences at the Maybank branch at Dataran Maybank in Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, between July 15, 2016, and March 15, 2018, under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.

       He also faces 27 money laundering charges by engaging in direct transactions involving proceeds from illegal activities between March 29, 2016, and April 11, 2018.