DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has withdrawn his appeal at the Federal Court against a lower court’s refusal to transfer his undersea tunnel corruption trial from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

One of Lim’s counsels, Haijan Omar, as well as

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the notice of discontinuance was filed at around noon today.

He and counsel for Lim, Hajian Omar, also said that Federal Court had notified them that they do not need to attend court tomorrow, following the filing.

On July 12, 2021, the High Court dismissed Lim’s application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court. He was subsequently rejected by the Court of Appeal on November 16.

The Bagan MP is facing four corruption charges over the construction of an undersea tunnel and paired roads in Penang worth RM6.3 billion.

According to the first amended charge, Lim is accused of using his position as Penang Chief Minister to obtain a bribe of RM3.3 million as an inducement to assist Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd (CZBUCG) owner Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli to secure the construction project worth RM6.3 billion.

He is accused of committing the offence at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office, Level 28, Komtar, George Town, between January 2011 and August 2017.

On the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a bribe of 10% of the profit from the company as gratification to secure the project, which he allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, in March 2011.

Lim faces two other charges of causing two plots of land worth RM209 million, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of to two companies linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project.

The two offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Level 21, Komtar, on February 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.

The trial is scheduled to resume on October 19 before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi. – Bernama, October 12, 2022.