Guan Eng agreed to use middleman to hand over RM2mil, says witness


KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court was told on Friday that Lim Guan Eng agreed to businessman G. Gnanaraja being used as a middleman to hand over the purported bribe money to him.

Testifying as the key prosecution witness, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 65, said he suggested Gnanaraja as a middleman to avoid being monitored by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"On Aug 17, 2017, when I met Lim at his office at 7pm, I told him that Gnanaraja was a Barisan Nasional man, had good ties with the (then) PM (prime minister)...and Gnanaraja was the most suitable person to be the middleman.

"I was being monitored by the MACC at the time, so it was too risky for me to pay Lim directly. I needed a middleman as there was a possibility that more money would be handed to Lim in the future,” said Zarul Ahmad.

He said this during the proceedings to challenge his credibility over his contradictory statements in court, regarding Gnanaraja’s fraud case involving RM19mil related to the undersea tunnel project.

When questioned by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin about Lim’s reaction to the suggestion, Zarul Ahmad replied, "YB Lim agreed and said he would be going to Kuala Lumpur soon and wanted to meet with Gnanaraja.”

After obtaining Lim’s approval, the witness said he informed Gnanaraja about the matter via WhatsApp on the same day.

Wan Shaharuddin: What was Gnanaraja’s reaction?

Zarul Ahmad replied: Gnanaraja was very pleased because he could meet YB Lim.

When Wan Shaharuddin referred to a WhatsApp exchange, where Zarul Ahmad said "good for us sir” and Gnanaraja responded "fantastic Datuk”, the witness explained that the conversation was about him securing a middleman to hand over RM2mil to Lim.

"Gnanaraja then replied to my WhatsApp message, saying ‘fantastic Datuk’, as he would act as the middleman and become friends with Lim,” he said.

The proceedings before Judge Azura Alwi will resume on Oct 2.

According to the first amended charge, Lim, 63, is alleged of using his position as chief minister of Penang at the time to receive bribes amounting to RM3.3mil, by helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad to be appointed to implement a highway and undersea tunnel project in Penang worth RM6,341,383,702.

Lim is alleged to have committed the act between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.

For the second amended charge, Lim is alleged to have sought a bribe of 10% of the profits from Zarul Ahmad as an inducement to help the businessman’s company be appointed for the same project.

Lim allegedly committed the act near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City between 12.30am and 2am, in March 2011.

He is also facing two charges of causing two lots of land owned by the Penang government worth RM208.8mil to be disposed of to companies allegedly linked to the undersea tunnel project in the state.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Penang State Land and Mines Office, Komtar on February 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. - Bernama

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

Dr Wee endorses amendments to citizenship provisions in Constitution
Visits to GISB-linked children on hold until they are safe, says Nancy
Peninsula-based company secured BESS project after meticulous selection, says Tangau
Tengku Zatashah launches Kechara Soup Kitchen's World Food Day 2024 Campaign
Don't take citizenship rights from kids of parents with PR status, says Muhyiddin
Price control scheme for Deepavali to be announced soon, says Armizan
Malaysia carriers fail to meet on-time targets, says Loke
High Court rejects Chinese women's bid for release from Immigration depot
Seven China nationals nabbed for working illegally in Semporna
Malaysia ranks 106th on 2024 Nature Conservation Index

Others Also Read