GEORGE TOWN: The Penang High Court has set Oct 11 for case management in the corruption trial involving former chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.
Judicial Commissioner Rofiah Mohamad set the date after it was agreed upon by Lim, Chew and Phang's lawyers in Friday's (JUly 26) proceedings on graft charges related to a RM11.6mil dormitory project.
Rofiah then agreed that all three defendants would be excused from attending court on Oct 11.
Lim’s counsel RSN Rayer told Rofiah that the Court of Appeal had fixed Aug 7 to hear the trio's request for the case to be dismissed.
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“We ask that the court set Oct 11 for case management as the Court of Appeal case is set for Aug 7.
“All parties (the respective lawyers) have agreed to the date,” he said in court on Friday.
On May 3, Rofiah dismissed Lim, Chew and Phang’s application for the case to be struck out.
Rayer had applied to strike out the case last year, citing the use of the same evidence in an unrelated case on which Lim was acquitted in 2018.
Rayer cited double jeopardy, saying the prosecution was using evidence from the previous criminal case involving the purchase of Lim's bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn despite his acquittal and discharge.
The trio then filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
DPPs Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, Syed Faisal Syed Amir and Shafiq Hasim appeared for the prosecution.
Also appearing for the defence was A. Ruebankumar.
Lim, Chew and Phang are facing charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
They pleaded not guilty in the High Court after the case was transferred from the Sessions Court in Butterworth.
According to the charges, Lim provided gratification to ensure that a company linked to Phang secured a dormitory project between 2013 and 2016.
Chew is accused of laundering the proceeds in three instalments.
