No direct mention RM2m was for Guan Eng - witness

The prosecution’s main witness in the corruption case against Lim Guan Eng told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that there was no direct mention of the RM2 million being handed to the former Penang chief minister or then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 65, said in the WhatsApp conversation with businessperson G Gnanaraja on July 17, 2017, he was the one who mentioned the “chocolate” (RM2 million) and not Gnanaraja.

When questioned by Lim’s lawyer Haijan Omar on who “CM” in the WhatsApp conversation on Aug 17, 2023, referred to, Zarul replied “Lim Guan Eng”.

The witness agreed with Haijan he did not mention whether the RM2 million was for the chief minister, the prime minister or Najib.

Zarul testified that Gnanaraja had informed him that he would meet with “Big Boss”, a reference to Najib in Taman Duta, when lawyer RSN Rayer asked about a WhatsApp conversation between them on July 23, 2017.

Rayer: On July 23, 2017, Gnanaraja said he would celebrate “Big Boss” birthday and meet him at Taman Duta, so “Big Boss” refers to Najib.

Zarul: Yes.

The witness did not agree with Rayer that “Big Boss” referred to Najib exclusively as he also used “Big Boss” to refer to other individuals.

Four charges

Lim is facing four corruption charges involving the proposed construction of an undersea tunnel and paired roads project in Penang.

On the first charge, Lim is alleged to have abused his power as then Penang chief minister to obtain RM3.3 million in monetary gratification as an inducement to appoint Zarul’s company to implement the RM6,341,383,702 undersea tunnel project and construction of main roads in the state.

He is alleged to have committed the offence between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.

On the second amended charge, Lim is accused of asking Zarul for 10 percent of profits as a reward for helping his company secure the said projects.

Lim is alleged to have committed the offence at The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here, between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.

He is also facing two other charges for dishonestly disposing of two plots of land belonging to the Penang government in Bandar Tanjong Pinang worth RM208 million to the developer of the undersea tunnel project, which was allegedly committed at the State Land and Mines Office in Komtar on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.

- Bernama