KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial of the Penang undersea tunnel project was adjourned on Friday (Nov 15) due to the key prosecution witness being unwell.
Former Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, who is supposed to continue his cross-examination in court on Friday (Nov 15), has a fever.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat informed the Sessions Court that they were told about the development in the morning.
“We were informed this morning that the witness has a fever and is not able to attend court today.
“We will hand over the medical certificate on the next trial date,” he said.
He said that all parties had agreed on several trial dates for next year following several discussions.
Judge Azura Alwi then adjourned the proceedings to Feb 27 next year after vacating two dates in December that had been picked earlier.
A total of 27 dates between February and November 2025 have been fixed - Feb 27 to 28; April 14, 15, and 25; May 14, 16, 27, and 28; June 24 and 25; July 10, 11, 22, and 23; Aug 19, 20, 27, and 28; Sept 23 to 24; Oct 14, 15, 29, and 30; Nov 12 to 13.
Zarul Ahmad, 65, who had pancreatic cancer, had several previous incidents where he became unwell and unable to attend court.
On June 27, 2022, he was supposed to appear in court for the prosecution's additional questioning and the defence's cross-examination. However, he became ill and took a medical leave.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the court at that time that Zarul Ahmad had just recovered from pancreatic cancer and may have experienced a relapse due to stress.
On Aug 9, 2022, while undergoing intensive cross-examination by the defence, Zarul Ahmad requested to pause after feeling unwell.
The prosecution then informed the court that a doctor gave Zarul Ahmad four days of medical leave.
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, who is also a former finance minister, 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 to two companies linked to the project.
