SEVERAL high-ranking Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers today expressed disappointment at the Penang High Court decision to discharge and acquit Lim Guan Eng of graft charges, alleging they had been kept in the dark.
“It is very upsetting. There is nothing more to say,” said one officer.
“I’m too tired to comment on the decision. I don’t feel like speaking about it,” said another.
The reaction from the senior officers came after MACC issued a statement this morning, saying it was “shocked” by the court’s decision to free the finance minister in connection with the purchase of a bungalow from his former landlady, Phang Li Khoon, who was also discharged and acquitted.
“MACC wants to stress that the decision to withdraw the case was made by the attorney-general, and not MACC,” said the anti-graft agency.
The statement was described by Lim’s lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh, as “ridiculous”.
“It is ridiculous for MACC to claim ignorance of today’s development, when the director of its own legal and prosecution division, Mohd Masri Daud, had informed the court that he was withdrawing the said charges.
“I was in court this morning with other counsel for both accused persons, and there was not a hint of dissatisfaction from Masri or his team that reflected MACC’s claim.”
The Malaysian Insight has contacted Attorney-General Tommy Thomas for comment, and is awaiting his response.
Lim was accused of using his position to seek gratification when he bought the bungalow on July 28, 2015, from Phang at RM2.8 million, although the property was said to be valued at RM4.27 million.
The offence, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, carries a penalty of two years’ jail, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Phang was charged with abetting Lim under Section 109 of the the same code, which prescribes the same penalty.
Lim was also accused of using his position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land into residential use during a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014.
Some 25 prosecution witnesses testified over two days of hearing in March. The prosecution had told the court that it had at least 55 witnesses to call to the stand. – September 3, 2018.
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Comments
Posted 5 years ago by Sean Wang · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Hantoo Blacklord · Reply
The whole case is questionable
1. Apandi said strong case - he was the lead prosecutor for MACC previously
2. Current MACC Director of legal & prosecution withdraws the Charges but MACC blames AG!
3. MACC senior personnel shocked
4. Now AG to reply MI?
5. What next?
The whole thing sounds stupid!
Posted 5 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Kurian Cherian · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Jayachandran menon · Reply
Posted 5 years ago by Jayachandran menon · Reply