GEORGE TOWN – The death of a prosecution witness in Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial will not affect Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) case.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharudin Wan Ladin told The Vibes that the death of Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng will not affect the prosecution.
He added that the prosecution will submit to court the victim’s statement which was recorded since 2018, in accordance with the legal provisions under Section 54 of the MACC Act 2009.
“Under the provisions of the law, we will submit all the victim’s statements that have been recorded to the court in the next proceeding, next month.”
Wan Shaharuddin said the latest statement recorded by the anti-graft body was two months ago, when the 53-year-old real estate tycoon was asked to appear at MACC in Penang to assist in the investigation.
“MACC is aware of Ewe’s death, but it will not affect the prosecution team.”
Last week, Ewe was found dead on the ground floor of his residence at The Palazzo condominium, Pulau Tikus, George Town, at about 2am.
Northeast district police chief Soffian Santong said the force received an emergency call from the public at 5am on the discovery of the body at the ground floor of the condominium.
Sources said the victim was Ewein Bhd president and group managing director Ewe.
Penang police, however, declined to confirm the victim’s identity until today.
Ewe was remanded by MACC in January 2018 to assist in the investigation of the Penang undersea tunnel case.
Lim is accused of abusing his position as then Penang chief minister to obtain gratification totalling RM3.3 million as an inducement for helping a company belonging to one Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure the undersea tunnel project, valued at RM6.3 million.
The offence was allegedly committed between January 2011 and August 2017 at the chief minister’s office at Komtar in George Town.
On the second amended charge, he is accused of soliciting bribes amounting to 10% of the profits from Zarul. The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel in Kuala Lumpur in March 2011.
Lim also faces two charges of causing two plots of land worth RM208.8 million and belonging to the Penang government to be disposed to two firms linked to the undersea tunnel project. – The Vibes, October 11, 2021
