Guan Eng's corruption trial posptoned to April 9

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): The graft trial of Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s (pictured) was yesterday postponed to April 9.

Bernama reported that the hearing this week was supposed to be set till Friday but Lim’s counsel Gobind Singh Deo sought the postonement as both of them had to be present at the Dewan Rakyat.

Gobind told Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail that it was crucial that they (Lim and Gobind) are present in the Dewan Rakyat today and tomorrow as there would be deliberations on the Election Commission’s redelineation report and the Anti-Fake News Bill 2018, Bernama reported.

Last June 30, Guan Eng pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), consisting of allegations concerning his involvement in the conversion of a piece of land from agricultural status to residential, and for allegedly buying a bungalow below market value.

According to deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud, Guan Eng is alleged to have used his position as a civil servant, namely chief minister, to gain gratification for himself and his wife Chew by approving an application to convert the land to public housing in Balik Pulau for a company, Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd.

Lim is alleged to have committed the offence while presiding over the Penang State Planning Committee meeting as its chairman at the operations room, Level 28, Komtar, on July 18, 2014.

Under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, he can be jailed up 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

In the second charge, he is alleged to have used his position to buy his bungalow on July 28, 2015 from Magnificent Emblem director Phang Li Koon for RM2.8 million, which is allegedly less than the RM4.27 million market value.

If found guilty under Section 165 of the Penal Code, Lim can be sentenced to a two-year jail term, or a fine or both.

Meanwhile, Phang, 46, pleaded not guilty to abetting Lim in obtaining the bungalow at an undervalued cost.

She is liable to two years or fine or both, if found guilty under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 165.