Oct 12 hearing of application for review of Lim, Phang’s acquittal on corruption charges

GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here yesterday set this Oct 12 to hear an application by Facebook account holder Mohsin Abdul Latif for a review of the court’s decision in acquitting and discharging former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon on corruption charges involving the purchase of a bungalow at below the market value.

Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail fixed the date after Mohsin, also known as ‘ Mamu Parpu’, informed the court that his lawyer, Gunamalar Joorindajn, was not able to attend yesterday’s proceeding.

“The applicant ( Mohsin) had just sent a letter to the court to inform that today’s hearing date was not suitable and requested the court to fix a new date after Oct 9.

“I could have just thrown out this application in only five minutes, without having to postpone ( the hearing) to another date) had the applicant not submitted a new letter which contents were not the same as before (in previous letter).

“If the court does not postpone, it will raise issues and said the court is unfair for not doing so. Therefore, the court sets this Oct 12 to hear the application and the case will proceed if the lawyer still fails to attend,” he said.

Mohsin filed the application middle of last month to obtain an order for the Lim and Phang’s acquittal and discharge to be reviewed.

In the application, made under Section 278 of the Criminal procedure Code, Mohsin named Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) deputy public prosecutor, Lim and Phang as the first, second and third respondent, respectively.

On Sept 3, the High Court acquitted and discharged Lim and Phang of the corruption charges following applications by the lawyers for them to be fully acquitted of the charges.

Lim was then represented by lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, while lawyers Datuk V.Sithambaram and Hisyam Teh Poh Teik acted for Phang.