Guan Eng’s corruption trial postponed to March

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial has been postponed to March 15.

The High Court could not set the hearing date until the Federal Court decided on the prosecution’s appeal against an earlier Court of Appeal decision that Lim need not file his defence. He is jointly charged with businesswoman Phang Li Koon, who is represented by Datuk V. Sithambaram.

Lim was charged on June 30, last year, with obtaining gratification for himself and his wife Betty Chew by approving the conversion of two lots of agricultural land belonging to Magnificent Emblem into residential development while chairing a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014.

Lim faces another charge of using his position to obtain gratification by buying his bungalow in Pinhorn Road from Phang for RM2.8mil, allegedly below the market value of RM4.27mil, on July 28, 2015. Phang is charged with abetting Lim.