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AKARTA: While other defendants have to stay inside the cramped and hot waiting room, Malinda Dee, the former senior Citibank manager accused of embezzling Rp 44 billion (US$4.93 million) from the bank’s clients, had the privilege of staying inside an an air-conditioned room to wait for her latest court hearing on Wednesday.

Malinda, who allegedly siphoned off money from several of Citibank’s premium customers between 2007 and 2010, was also seen being guarded by eight bodyguards, who had apparently been hired by her directly.

The spokesman of the South Jakarta Prosecutor Office, Masyhudi, defended the privilege, saying that it had been offered to Malinda for health reasons.

Masyhuri said that Malinda suffered from a health complaint that required her to stay inside an air-conditioned room at all times. “We obtained her medical record, which stated she needed to be in an air-conditioned environment. However, I can’t quite remember what her illness was,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Masyhuri said that the special treatment did not violate any law. “Such priveleges are allowed in accordance with court procedure,” he said.

Malinda has appeared in court four times since Oct. 8, and the 49-year-old woman has only enjoyed the privilege since her third hearing last week.