KUALA LUMPUR: The defence in the ongoing trial of the Penang undersea tunnel project, involving former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, has been reprimanded for asking repetitive questions during the cross-examination of a key prosecution witness.
During the proceedings, Lim's co-counsel RSN Rayer questioned former Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli about a RM2mil payment made to two individuals.
This prompted an objection from Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.
“The defence has asked this before during the impeachment proceeding. What is the relevance of these questions to the main trial now?” he said, adding that the defence was wasting the court's time.
Emphasising the need for efficient proceedings, Wan Shaharuddin humorously added that Lim might develop a slipped disc from prolonged sittings if the trial were unnecessarily extended.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi intervened, suggesting the defence focus on arguments pertinent to the main trial.
She also advised that issues related to discrepancies between Zarul Ahmad's court statements and his statements to the press in a media report could be addressed in their final submissions, rather than revisiting them during the trial.
Despite the reminders, Rayer insisted on the relevance of his questions, attempting to demonstrate that the witness had provided two conflicting versions of events.
However, Judge Azura reassured the court that all necessary testimonies and evidence had been gathered efficiently, hence no need for repetition.
"We are in the main trial now, so you need to focus. I think (lead counsel) Haijan (Omar) has asked at length about the payment earlier.
"I have been sitting here and have gathered all that. I'm only waiting for you all to do your submission. So there's no need to repeat," she added.
The trial continues on Nov 15.
Lim, 63, is facing an amended charge of using his position as then Penang chief minister to solicit RM3.3mil in bribes as an inducement to assist Zarul Ahmad in securing the undersea tunnel project worth RM6.34bil.
Lim allegedly committed the offence at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office, Level 28, Komtar, George Town, between January 2011 and August 2017.
In the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10% profit from the company as gratification to secure the project.
The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here, in March 2011.
Lim, who is DAP chairman and Bagan MP, faces two further charges of causing two plots of land worth RM208.8mil, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of by two companies linked to the project.
