Ex-chief minister alleges witness testimony fabricated

The legal team representing former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng in his corruption trial yesterday raised an objection against a statement recorded from Ewein Bhd founder and executive chairman Datuk Ewe Swee Keng, contending it was fabricated.

Ewe was the 15th prosecution witness and due to testify in the corruption case involving Lim, but he died last Oct 5 after allegedly falling from a condominium unit.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said the statement, dated last Aug 14 and recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), did not comply with Section 30(8) of the MACC Act, and should be rejected.

He queried why certain parts of the statement were handwritten and other parts were in a computerised format, while the law stipulated that every part of the statement should be in writing.

“The first three statements recorded separately by MACC from Ewe last year seemed to exonerate Lim but the fourth, which was recorded this year, seemed to implicate my client.

“The only implication here is that it (statement purportedly recorded by MACC from Ewe) is a fabrication. Therefore, I am applying for the court to not allow all four statements to be admitted as evidence.”

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin submitted that the MACC statements were legally admissible as evidence as the defence had failed to challenge the portion of the recorded statements that the late Ewe was not compelled to give.

After hearing submissions by both parties, judge Azura Alwi fixed Dec 13 to on decide the matter. – Bernama