KUALA LUMPUR: The corruption trial of former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng linked to the Penang undersea tunnel project saw the court allowing the defence to cross-examine a prosecution witness based on investors' reports alleging misconduct.
The defence had sought to introduce documents, including court reports, filed by a group of investors who claimed that businessman G. Gnanaraja had deceived them, arguing that the material was relevant to assessing his credibility.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected, questioning the relevance of the documents to the charges faced by Lim in this trial.
“The issue before the court is whether the witness sent money to the accused, not whether he is a conman,” he said, adding that the documents stemmed from separate proceedings.
Defence counsel RSN Rayer maintained that the reports were crucial in testing the witness’s trustworthiness, alleging that Gnanaraja had a tendency to invoke the names of prominent figures, including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, to induce investments.
He argued that such conduct was relevant to the present trial, as it showed a pattern affecting the witness’s credibility.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi, following deliberations, ruled that the defence would be allowed to cross-examine the witness based on the reports but cautioned that the court would intervene if the questions were not relevant.
Rayer welcomed the decision, giving an assurance that the defence would obtain and verify the affidavits linked to the reports to ensure fairness to the witness.
The reports were said to involve about 150 investors. The court subsequently admitted the reports as exhibits.
The trial continues.
