Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo told the court that Lim had been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) since Sunday.

“He underwent a medical procedure and the hospital provided him with a medical certificate starting from Sunday until tomorrow. He will be back in court on Thursday.

“We request for the trial to be conducted without his presence since the prosecution is calling formal witnesses today and tomorrow,” he said, adding that the court could invoke Section 264 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) where an accused’s presence could be dispensed of.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said they sympathised with Lim’s condition and hoped he would recover quickly.

“However, we want to express our regret to this court because the accused (Lim) chose to be admitted to the hospital when he knew his trial had been fixed this week.

“I hope such a thing will not happen again,” he said.

In response, Gobind apologised to the court and affirmed that the defence wanted to proceed with the case.

Trial judge Azura Alwi then said she would invoke Section 264 of the CPC for the trial today and tomorrow.

Lim is standing trial on charges of using his position to ask Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli for a 10% cut of the profits from the undersea tunnel project, and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks from the businessman.

He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land to two companies.