Lim’s trial put off to July 30
Former CM’s legal team wants charges reviewed by new AG
GEORGE TOWN: The corruption trial of newly-sworn in Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has been adjourned to July 30.
This follows High Court judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail allowing an application by Lim’s lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, who told the court that the defence team of Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon would be filing a representation on the charges against them with the new Attorney General.
Ramkarpal also said Lim and his lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo were both being sworn in as Cabinet Ministers yesterday evening at Istana Negara.
He also said the status of the Attorney General at the moment was still unknown, adding that the appointment would likely be only in July.
Phang’s lawyer Datuk V. Sithambaram said his client’s instructions was to make a comprehensive representation to the AG to review and withdraw the charges against her.
He said this was pertaining to the new Federal Government’s stand that politically motivated charges would be reviewed, adding that this was such a case.
DPP Datuk Masri Mohd Daud said he would reserve his views, adding that the prosecution had not received any fresh evidence on the case.
He later told reporters that the defence team was allowed to make a representation.
“They want to refer the matter to the new AG; definitely I have no say about it. I, myself, don’t know when the new AG is coming.
“At the end of the day, I will have to leave it to court to decide. They will send a representation and the new AG will consider on it.
“They can always write to us, and we will look into it. If there is any merit, we will make a decision,” he added.
Ramkarpal said there was no law against Lim being sworn in as a Cabinet Minister.
“A person is innocent until proven guilty. So, there’s no barrier to stop him from being sworn in. Our stand has always been that these charges are politically motivated,’’ he added.
He said the defence would be filing the representation in a week or two.
“Gobind is no longer allowed to practise. So, obviously he can’t continue with the case. I will be representing together with Rayer (R.S.N. Rayer),” he added.
Sithambaram said his side had obtained further documentary evidence on the case.