Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial for allegedly purchasing a bungalow at below market price is set to start at the High Court in Georgetown on Monday (26 March), reported Free Malaysia Today.
The case will be heard by Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail from Monday until Friday. Deputy Public Prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud said they are prepared, while Lim’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik revealed that his clients have already submitted their statements to the prosecution team last Wednesday.
Previously, Lim and the bungalow seller businesswoman Phang Li Koon were charged by the Sessions Court in June 2016 but no plea was made.
The case was then transferred to the High Court after Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali invoked Section 60 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
Thereafter, Lim pleaded not guilty to corruption charges for allegedly converting agriculture land to residential and buying a bungalow and a plot of land at below market price.
Penang’s Chief Minister is accused of taking advantage of his position by approving the land conversion of agriculture land to a public housing in southwest Penang for the benefit of Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd in July 2014.
If convicted, Lim could be jailed for up to 20 years and face a minimum fine of RM10,000, or amounting to five times the value of bribe received, whichever is higher, under Section 23 of the MACC Act.
He is also charged with using his position to purchase a land and bungalow in George Town for only RM2.8 million from Phang in July 2015, with the authorities insisting that the property is valued at RM4.27 million. Phang also pleaded not guilty in allowing Lim to buy the bungalow.
If convicted, both could be imprisoned for a maximum of two years and/or face a fine under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
In June 2016, Lim and Phang recorded no plea when the charges were read before the Sessions Court as the case was transferred to the High Court.
Before the trial started, both sought to declare Section 62 of the MACC Act as unconstitutional, as it requires the accused to submit their defence statements to the prosecution before commencing the trial.
While the High Court dismissed their application, the Court of Appeal reversed the ruling in August 2017. But the Federal Court overturned the verdict in December 2017 and ordered the trial to start.
Image sourced from Mole.my
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