Guan Eng claims trial to charges of misappropriation of property

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Guan Eng (centre) walks out of the Sessions Court in Butterworth, Penang. — Bernama photo

BUTTERWORTH: Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with two counts of causing two plots of land belonging to the Penang government worth  RM208.8 million to be disposed of to two companies, which are linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project.

Guan Eng, 60, who is also the former chief minister of Penang, pleaded not guilty after both charges were read out before Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid.

“Not guilty, sir,” said Guan Eng, who appeared in court wearing a full black suit and accompanied by his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng and his father Lim Kit Siang.

On the first count, Guan Eng was charged with causing Penang Land Registrar to dispose of property belonging to the state government – namely, Lot Tanah No HS (D) 18801, No PT Lot 702 Seksyen 1, Bandar Tanjong Pinang, Daerah Timor Laut, Penang – worth RM135,086,094
to Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd.

The Bagan MP was also accused of causing the Penang Land Registrar to dispose of Lot Tanah No HS (D) 19318, No PT Lot 10012 Seksyen 1, Bandar Tanjong Pinang, Daerah Timor Laut, worth RM73,668,986, to Zenith Urban Development Sdn Bhd.

Guan Eng was charged with committing both offences at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Level 21, KOMTAR here, on Feb 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017.

The charges, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, provide for imprisonment of up to five years and whipping, and a fine, upon conviction.

Ahmad Azhari had allowed the RM1 million bail posted in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for the earlier charges, to also be applied to the current charges and also allowed the case to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

The judge fixed Oct 12 for mention.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutors Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Francine Cheryl Rajendram appeared for the prosecution, while Guan Eng was represented by lawyers Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh, RSN Rayer and A Sivanesan.

Earlier, Wan Shaharuddin in his argument said all the cases were closely related and occurred in the same transaction.

He said key witnesses of the prosecution are also residing in the Klang Valley and the surrounding areas.

Yesterday’s charges against Guan Eng were the last in connection with the Penang undersea tunnel project.

On Aug 7, he had claimed trial in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to one charge of soliciting a 10-per cent cut in profits from the undersea tunnel project from Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli.

Guan Eng was charged with committing the offence nearby The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here in 2011.

On Aug 10, Guan Eng pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to using his position as the then-chief minister of Penang to receive gratification of more than RM3.3 million to help Zarul Ahmad’s company to secure the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at the office of the Penang Chief Minister, Level 28, KOMTAR, Georgetown between January 2011 and August 2017.

Guan Eng was charged again in the same court on Aug 11, in his capacity as the chief minister of Penang and chairman of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Procurement Board then, with using his position for gratification, involving RM372,009 for his wife, through a company,  Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd. — Bernama