Guan Eng’s corruption trial postponed to April 9

GEORGE TOWN: The corruption trial of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the High Court here was yesterday postponed to April 9.

The hearing this week had been set for Friday but counsel Gobind Singh Deo sought the postonement on the grounds that both of them (who are also MPs) needed to be present at the Dewan Rakyat.

He told Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail that it was important that they be present in the Dewan Rakyat today and Thursday because there would be deliberations on the Election Commission’s redelineation report and the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018.

Earlier, a witness had told the court that the transaction to transfer ownership of the bungalow lot at NO 25 Jalan Pinhorn from the name of Phang Li Koon to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was done in 2015.

Penang Land & Mines Office assistant director (Registration) Mohd Syukri Mohd Mokhtar, 33, said the transaction was done on Oct 21, 2015 at 4pm involving 1/1 part and the land the bungalow was sited on which was freehold with size 944 square metres .

“The date of registration (for the lot) issued by the Penang Land and Mines Office was Dec 7, 1983. The land premium was RM510.

“This plot (No 25 Jalan Pinhorn) is of ‘First Grade’ status, meaning the owner need not submit an application to change the status if he or she wanted to convert it for industrial, agriculture or development purposes,” he said in a witness statement before Justice Hadhariah on the second day of the corruption trial of Lim and Phang, a businesswoman.

The 25th prosecution witness also informed the court that previously the lot was in the name of Ming Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd and that the transfer of ownership from Ming Holdings to Phang was done on Dec 2, 2008 at 10.54am.

Meanwhile, Maybank Islamic Jalan Penang branch assistant manager, Ooi Beng Joo, 57, told the court that Lim issued a cheque dated May 20, 2014 for RM100,000 from his Maybank Islamic account as payment to Phang.

The prosecution’s 23rd witness also confirmed that a cheque dated Aug 17, 2015 for RM420,000 issued by Lim was banked into Phang’s account.

“Based on Lim Guan Eng’s account statement for August 2015, I confirm that there was a withdrawal transaction on Aug 26, 2015, that is an ‘inward clearing cheque’ transaction for the sum of RM420,000,” he said.

On the first amended charge, Lim is accused of using his position as a public official (Penang Chief Minister) to approve an application for rezoning of land in Southwest District, Penang from agricultural to public housing status to a company, Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd, in his and his wife’s interest.

Lim, 58, allegedly committed the offence while chairing the Penang State Planning Committee Meeting on 28th Floor, Komtar Building, George Town here on July 18, 2014.

He faces Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum 20 years’ jail and fine of not less than five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher. - Bernama