Witnesses deny lying in giving evidence in Lim Guan Eng's corruption case
Guan Eng (centre) appeared in the Sessions Court today for the trial of his corruption case involving charges of undersea tunnel construction and the main road construction project in Penang, worth RM6.3 billion.
September 18, 2023
Witnesses deny lying in giving evidence in Lim Guan Eng's corruption case
Guan Eng (centre) appeared in the Sessions Court today for the trial of his corruption case involving charges of undersea tunnel construction and the main road construction project in Penang, worth RM6.3 billion. - Named Photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) told the Sessions Court here today that he did not lie when testifying in the corruption case involving Lim Guan Eng.
Ibrahim Sahari, 59, informed the matter when lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who represented Lim, disputed the witness' statement in the Shah Alam Sessions Court which was inconsistent with his testimony in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
The issue was raised by Gobind because when Ibrahim testified in Shah Alam in a fraud case involving businessman G. Gnanaraja, the witness stated that another CZCSB Director, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, had informed that he (Zarul Ahmad) had been cheated by Gnanaraja who asked for RM19 million of it.
Gnanaraja is said to have asked for the money to help close the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation into the money laundering offense against Zarul Ahmad.
During proceedings at the Sessions Court here on 28 June 2022, Ibrahim said Zarul Ahmad had confessed to the MACC and to him that he made the payment to Lim after his release from the agency's custody.
Ibrahim also admitted to preparing fake invoices and vouchers and the money was then used to bribe Lim.
Earlier, when cross-examined by another of Lim's lawyers, Tiara Katrina Fuad, the witness agreed with his statement in Shah Alam that RM19 million was given to Gnanaraja to close the money laundering investigation against Zarul Ahmad.
When questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul last Friday, Ibrahim said his statement in Shah Alam contradicted his statement in this court because it involved different charges and individuals.
Lim, 62, faces an amended charge of using his position as Chief Minister of Penang to accept a bribe of RM3.3 million in helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad to obtain a construction project worth RM6,341,383,702 at the Office of the Chief Minister of Penang, Floor 28, Komtar, George Town between January 2011 to August 2017.
For the second amended charge, Lim is accused of asking Zarul Ahmad for a bribe of 10 per cent of the company's profits, as an appreciation for getting the project and is accused of committing the act near The Garden Hotels, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here in March 2011.
Lim is also facing two charges for causing two land lots worth RM208.8 million owned by the Penang government to be disposed of to two companies allegedly linked to the undersea tunnel project.
The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues on Oct 23.
