PENANG Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s graft case in relation to his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow purchase has been postponed to March 15 next year for mention.

The postponement of the case at the Penang High Court is due to the prosecution’s challenge against Lim’s successful appeal over an order to file his defence before trial.

The prosecution’s challenge is now pending at the Federal Court.

Lim, who was not present at the High Court this morning, was represented by counsel R.S.N. Rayer before judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail.

In August, the Court of Appeal had ruled that Section 62 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act was unconstitutional in requiring an accused to file his or her defence before trial.

Section 62 requires the accused to file his or her defence, setting out the nature of the defence and copies of documents that will be offered as evidence, before trial begins.

Lim, who is facing trial for buying his bungalow home at a discount, was previously told to file his statement of defence before his trial began, leading him to file for a judicial review.

The DAP secretary-general was charged last year over the rezoning of two plots of agricultural land in Balik Pulau for residential use, which was said to benefit the plots’ owner, Magnificent Emblem, a company linked to Lim’s former landlady, Phang Li Koon.

He faces a second charge over his purchase of the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow for RM2.8 million, allegedly below the market price of RM4.27 million, from Phang, on July 28, 2015.

Phang, a businesswoman, is also facing charges over the bungalow sale. – November 14, 2017.