Former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik's defence in the Port Klang Free Trade Zone trial kicks off today with lawyer Wong Kian Kheong reading an opening speech in court.
Wong, a former public prosecutor, said before a packed courtroom that the defence will show the price in the sale and purchase of the land was in agreement with the Valuation and Property Services Department.
"The amount tabled does not include the interest payable to the bond issued," said the lawyer.
"No one informed Tun Ling that the calculation was fraudulent or wrong. The Finance Ministry officials were confused over the repayment nature of the land," he said.
Wong said the defence will show the land price - RM25psf (per square foot) - was the face value of the bond, and that there was no deception.
He claimed that the Ling had not at any time favoured contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd.
Wong added that the mammoth project was supported by the PM's special advisor Ali Abul Hassan, and that for Ling to cheat, it would have involved a high degree of government officials in both the Transport and Finance ministries.
The lawyer also said his client's rights had seriously been prejudiced as he had no access to some of the government documents.
He also slammed former MCA assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng's book on the scandal, which was published recently, as it denied his ex-party boss Ling a fair trial.
Three options
Ling, 68, was ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to enter his defence on March 9 after justice Ahmadi Asnawi ruled the prosecution has successfully prove a prima facie case.
In defending himself, Ling has three options - to take the witness stand, to testify from the dock or to remain silent. Ling opted to take the witness stand.
On June 21, he had unsuccessfully tried to recuse the trial judge after Ahmadi ruled the defence failed to show he was biased in his written judgment.
Ling is accused of cheating the government by concealing from then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet the existence of an additional 7.5 percent interest rate per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project.
Wong, a former public prosecutor, said before a packed courtroom that the defence will show the price in the sale and purchase of the land was in agreement with the Valuation and Property Services Department.
"The amount tabled does not include the interest payable to the bond issued," said the lawyer."No one informed Tun Ling that the calculation was fraudulent or wrong. The Finance Ministry officials were confused over the repayment nature of the land," he said.
Wong said the defence will show the land price - RM25psf (per square foot) - was the face value of the bond, and that there was no deception.
He claimed that the Ling had not at any time favoured contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd.
Wong added that the mammoth project was supported by the PM's special advisor Ali Abul Hassan, and that for Ling to cheat, it would have involved a high degree of government officials in both the Transport and Finance ministries.
The lawyer also said his client's rights had seriously been prejudiced as he had no access to some of the government documents.
He also slammed former MCA assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng's book on the scandal, which was published recently, as it denied his ex-party boss Ling a fair trial.
Three options
Ling, 68, was ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to enter his defence on March 9 after justice Ahmadi Asnawi ruled the prosecution has successfully prove a prima facie case.
In defending himself, Ling has three options - to take the witness stand, to testify from the dock or to remain silent. Ling opted to take the witness stand.
On June 21, he had unsuccessfully tried to recuse the trial judge after Ahmadi ruled the defence failed to show he was biased in his written judgment.Ling is accused of cheating the government by concealing from then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet the existence of an additional 7.5 percent interest rate per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project.
The Valuation and Property Services Department had fixed the price for the land at RM25psf, or RM1.09 billion including coupon interest.
Ling was charged on July 29, 2010, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, or a fine, or both.
He faces two alternative charges of cheating and intentionally omitting information in his report to the cabinet on the additional interest rate, which carries up to five years' jail or a fine, or both.
He faces two alternative charges of cheating and intentionally omitting information in his report to the cabinet on the additional interest rate, which carries up to five years' jail or a fine, or both.
[More to follow]
Ling was charged on July 29, 2010, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, or a fine, or both.
He faces two alternative charges of cheating and intentionally omitting information in his report to the cabinet on the additional interest rate, which carries up to five years' jail or a fine, or both.
He faces two alternative charges of cheating and intentionally omitting information in his report to the cabinet on the additional interest rate, which carries up to five years' jail or a fine, or both.
[More to follow]
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