KUALA LUMPUR: A land valuer told the sessions court that he put a RM300 million price tag on two plots of state land given to companies linked to the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Tan Gaik Eng testified that he received a phone call from a representative of Ewein Land Sdn Bhd in June 2013, requesting him to value Lot 702 in Bandar Tanjong Pinang, Penang.
Ewein Land is a subsidiary of Ewein Bhd, which was founded by the late businessman Ewe Swee Kheng.
Tan told the court that he and his staff went to the location to take pictures and conduct measurements as part of the valuation process.
He said they prepared a report to justify the RM135 million price tag placed on Lot 702.
Tan also said he valued a second plot of land at RM165 million.
“Ewein’s representative called me sometime in June 2015 and asked me to conduct a valuation on Lot 10012,” he added.
The two plots are the subject matter of corruption charges faced by former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng in connection with the project.
Lim is charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land to the two companies.
He is also alleged to have used his position to ask Consortium Zenith Sdn Bhd director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli for a 10% cut of the project’s profits, and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks from Zarul.
When questioned by Lim’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo as to whether he was aware that two land valuation officers from the valuation and property services department had also conducted valuations of Lots 702 and 10012, Tan replied that he had no knowledge of the matter.
“This would also mean that you were not aware that both plots of land were valued at RM80 million by the valuation and property services department?” Gobind asked.
Tan said he was not aware of the price tags given by the department.
The court also heard testimony from two land valuation officers that Lot 702 had been valued at RM50 million and Lot 10012 at RM30 million.
Meanwhile, an officer from Penang’s lands and mines office, Norfadilah Kassim, also testified today.
She told the court she handled the transfer of land ownership for Lot 702 and Lot 10012 sometime between December 2016 and March 2017.
Norfadilah added that Lot 702 was given to Ewein Zenith, while Lot 10012 was given to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.
She said both plots were classified as freehold land.
The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues from Nov 23-25.
The court also fixed further hearing dates on Jan 12 and 18, Feb 9 and 10, Feb 13 and 15 as well as March 23 and 24 next year.
Earlier today, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court that Zarul could not attend court today to be cross-examined by Gobind.
“He was given medical leave from yesterday to Aug 12,” he said.
Zarul first took the witness stand on Dec 17 last year. - FMT
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