GEORGE TOWN – DAP has pleaded for the people to not draw conclusions on the corruption trial of its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng until the trial is concluded.
Admitting that the trial has gained considerable attention following the testimony of prosecution star witness Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, the party’s legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh Deo said that the trial only recommences in March next year.
The Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd director made a stunning disclosure that Lim sought 10% from the profits arising from the proposed RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel here.
He had given part of his testimony yesterday on behalf of the prosecution.
“He has not finished and is due to be cross-examined on March 23 next year,” he said.
“March is some three months away and there has been talk of a possible general election being called around that time.
“No doubt, much will be said and speculated of Zarul Ahmad’s evidence in the coming months, mostly along the lines of what he said in court - that he was shocked that Lim had purportedly asked him for a bribe, which has not yet been challenged.
“That is what he has claimed so far.
“What is most unfortunate is that Zarul was called just past noon on Friday, just before the court adjourned for the day and there was no way that the defence could have put its version to him as there was not enough time for the defence to start its cross-examination on him.
“Which means all that will be speculated on in the coming months, possibly before the next general elections, is Zarul’s version,” Ramkarpal said in a statement, today.
It would have been ideal, Ramkarpal said, if Zarul was called earlier so that he could have been thoroughly cross-examined and his version properly challenged.
Unfortunately, the prosecution chose not to do this but to call him literally at the last minute, although it is entirely within its prerogative to do so, he added.
“The defence will no doubt challenge the credibility of Zarul and his version of events in March, which is why lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo requested for a copy of his statement to the MACC from the prosecution as there are reasons to believe what he said in court was inconsistent with the said statement.
“Like any other, a story is not complete until the entire book is read.
“We are far from that in this case, and to accept Zarul Ahmad’s version now without qualification is certainly premature,” he added. – The Vibes, December 18, 2021
