Key witness tells court he handed over RM1mil in cash on two occasions
KUALA LUMPUR: A key witness in the corruption trial involving the Penang undersea tunnel project testified that Lim Guan Eng smiled as he received a bag containing RM1mil in cash.
When reading out his witness statement, businessman Datuk Seri G. Gnanaraja told the Sessions Court that he handed RM2mil in cash to Lim in 2017.
He said he first handed RM1mil to Lim on Aug 20, 2017, in a car driven by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd’s former director, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli in Publika, as instructed by the latter.
“Lim took the bag, and he also patted Zarul Ahmad’s shoulder. I think it was to show his appreciation for the RM1mil,” he said.
Gnanaraja said the second payment of RM1mil was made when Lim visited his home in the early morning of Aug 29, 2017, in the presence of Zarul Ahmad.
He added that the purpose of the visit was to discuss “setting up a company and a bank account” to handle matters relating to the bribe payment for the undersea tunnel project.
“As soon as Lim expressed his intent to leave, I retrieved a bag containing RM1mil from my Bentley and handed it to him. Lim accepted the bag with a smile before getting into his car and placing the bag on his lap.”
He said Lim had posed for photographs with his mother-in-law and wife during the visit.
During cross-examination by lead counsel RSN Rayer, Gnanaraja denied that he had struck a deal with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to frame Lim.
He also recounted his legal troubles in a separate Shah Alam court, where he was charged in 2019 with cheating Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli of RM19mil.
“It was a short stint; I can’t remember how long it lasted.”
Gnanaraja confirmed being investigated and interrogated by the MACC, and that he was initially charged with committing fraud.
He said he paid a fine after the charges were amended later.
Previously, a 108-page statement by Zarul Ahmad to the MACC, which was recorded for the Shah Alam case, was allowed to be used in Lim’s trial to impeach Zarul Ahmad’s credibility for making conflicting statements involving Gnanaraja.
On further questioning by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Gnanaraja denied holding any animosity towards Lim, he also denied fabricating his testimony.
“Why would I lie? I just told the court I took two bags and gave two bags,” he said.
Referring to forensic reports and messages from the Shah Alam court, Gnanaraja explained that the term “big boss” often referred to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but in certain contexts with Zarul Ahmad, it referred to Lim.
“It’s just a general term to refer to a person in authority.”
Lim, 64, 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 in March 2011.
Lim, who is 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.
The trial continues today.
