FORMER finance minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife, Betty Chew, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon were charged with various offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) at the Butterworth Sessions Court today.
All three pleaded not guilty to the charges related to a foreign workers’ dormitory project worth RM11.61 million.
The charges alleged that Lim and his wife received RM372,009 in kickbacks from the project, which was awarded to Phang.
Lim was charged with abusing his power as Penang chief minister and Penang Development Corporation chairman for gratification between August 2013 and March 2016.
He was charged having obtained gratification for Chew through Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd.
Lim allegedly used his position to ensure Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd was offered a request for proposal for a workers’ dormitory project in Batu Kawan and Juru.
Phang was charged with abetting Lim to commit the offence.
Meanwhile, Chew was slapped with three separate charges of money-laundering under AMLA.
She was charged for receiving three tranches of money from Excel Property Management and Consultancy Sdn Bhd to her personal Public Bank account registered in Malacca.
Her first charge was allegedly guilty of receiving RM87,009 sometime between October 2013 and August 2014.
The second charge was for receiving RM180,000 from the company between September 2014 and August 2015.
The final charge was for getting RM105,000 in her account between September 2015 and March 2016.
Chew pleaded not guilty for all three charges.
The prosecution was represented by DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib, Roslan Mat Nor, Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mohktar and Francine Cheryl Rajendram.
The defence lawyers are Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer and V. Vemal Arasan.
Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid set bail at RM50,000 for each individual in one surety each. The next case mention is on October 16.
Among those present in the court today were former deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Yesterday, Lim pleaded not guilty at the Butterworth Sessions Court to receiving a RM3.3 million bribe for awarding the Penang undersea tunnel project worth RM6.34 billion to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd.
Last Friday, the Bagan MP also claimed trial at the special corruption court in Kuala Lumpur for soliciting a 10% bribe from the profits of the RM6.3 billion highway and undersea tunnel projects. – August 11, 2020.
Comments
Posted 3 years ago by Zainuddin Yusoff · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by The Rover · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Tavern Folks · Reply
Posted 3 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply