MACC not dropping charges against Guan Eng

Lim Guan Eng. -AP

PUTRAJAYA: The anti-graft body is not going to withdraw corruption charges against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Denying such a move, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) says it has no power to withdraw cases that have been taken to court.

“The authority to do so rests with the Attorney General’s Chambers,” said the MACC in a statement.

The agency was responding to a report by China Press which quoted sources saying that MACC is likely to withdraw charges against Lim when his corruption trial resumes next week.

Lim, then Chief Minister of Penang, had pleaded not guilty on June 30, 2016 to two counts of corruption involving the conversion of agricultural land to residential status and the purchase of a bungalow at below market value.

He was charged with using his position as chief minister to gain gratification for himself and wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng by approving the application for conversion of agricultural land to a public housing zone in Balik Pulau to Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd.

He faces a second charge of using his position to obtain a plot of land and bungalow at No. 25, Jalan Pinhorn, on July 28, 2015, from businesswoman Phang Li Koon for RM2.8mil, at below market value.

Lim was sworn in as Finance Minister on May 21, following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the May 9 polls.

His trial resumes on Monday.