KUALA LUMPUR – Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng’s graft trial has been adjourned early after lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo received information that a staffer is positive for Covid-19.
Exiting the high court here, Gobind advised pressmen to maintain their distance, saying he was on his way to undergo a swab test.
“During the afternoon session, lead counsel Gobind was informed that one of his staff tested positive for Covid-19. He got the news only during lunch,” fellow counsel and Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh told reporters outside the court.
“Although we are not sure what’s going on, he informed the court that he was in contact with the staff, and the court advised him to undergo a swab test.”
Earlier today, prosecutors called former Penang public works, utilities and transportation exco Lim Hock Seng to testify on meetings and memoranda of understanding signed between the state government and Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG).
He said two MoUs were inked with BUCG, the second in the presence of both the Malaysian and Chinese prime ministers.
Asked why the prosecution chose to tender this as evidence, Ramkarpal told The Vibes: “I think it is a bit too early at this stage as he (Hock Seng) is still giving evidence, so we cannot comment on that.”
Guan Eng’s trial was heard before sessions court judge Azura Alwi.
The prosecution was led by Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.
On August 7 last year, Guan Eng was charged at the sessions court here with soliciting a bribe from a company awarded a contract to build the undersea tunnel.
On August 10, he faced charges at the Butterworth sessions court for allegedly abusing his position as the then Penang chief minister to solicit gratification worth RM3.3 million to secure the RM6.3 billion endeavour. – The Vibes, July 14, 2021
