KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 125 prosecution witnesses, including several Penang executive council members are expected to be called to testify in the corruption trial of former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, who faces four charges linked to the construction of an undersea tunnel and road construction project in the state.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told reporters this after case management before sessions court judge Azura Alwi today.
“A total of 125 witnesses could be called for the prosecution’s case, including several exco members from Penang. We have also submitted all documents related to the case to the defence today.
“Among them were telephone forensic reports, reports from the financial analysis division of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and reports from prosecution experts on the projects involved,” he said.
Lim, 60, represented by Sangeet Kaur Deo, was exempted from attending proceedings today.
Earlier, Wan Shaharuddin informed the court that the prosecution had submitted all the documents required by the defence before the trial, which is expected to begin on June 8.
“We have also submitted a list of potential witnesses to the defence and a copy of the list of witnesses to the court,” he said.
On the first count, Lim is charged with using his position as the chief minister for gratification amounting RM3.3 million, as an inducement to help a company belonging to Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure the undersea tunnel project, valued at RM6.3 million.
On the second charge, Lim is accused of having solicited bribes amounting to 10% of the profits from Zarul to be earned by the company as gratification for helping it to secure the project.
The charge, under Section 16 of the MACC Act, provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The Bagan MP also faces two charges of causing two plots of land, worth RM208.8 million, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of to two companies linked to the undersea tunnel project. – Bernama, March 29, 2021
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