Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng and businessperson Phang Li Koon seek to strike out the corruption and money laundering case against them.
Lawyer RSN Rayer confirmed he informed the High Court in George Town during proceedings there earlier today.
“We will be making an application to strike out the charges soon,” the lawyer said when contacted. He and co-counsel S Meharaj acted for Lim and Chew.
When contacted, Phang’s counsel V Sithambaram said that his client has already filed the application to strike out the charge against her. Deputy public prosecutor S Selvaranjini conducted the prosecution.
Initially charged at the Sessions Court in Butterworth in 2020, the trio’s case has since been transferred to the High Court in George Town. The High Court has set Sept 11 this year for mention of the case.
On Aug 11 2020, Lim (above) was charged - in his capacity as then chief minister and the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Procurement Board’s chairperson - with using his position for gratification involving RM372,009 for his wife through company, Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd.
The charge claimed this was to ensure Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd was offered an invitation to propose a workers’ village - at Lot 631, Mukim 13, Juru, Seberang Perai Tengah, and part of Lot 282, Mukim 13, Batu Kawan, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang - which is worth RM11,610,000.
The Bagan MP was accused of committing the offence between Aug 19, 2013, and March 3, 2016, at the chief minister's office, Level 28, Komtar, in George Town.
The charge under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009 carries maximum imprisonment up to 20 years, and fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Phang was charged with abetting Lim in committing the offence at the same place and date.
Chew was charged with three counts of money laundering by allegedly receiving RM372,009 from a company through her bank account.
Chew was alleged to have received RM87,009, RM180,000 and RM105,000, respectively, which were contended to be proceeds from unlawful activities, from Excel Property Management & Consultancy, and which were purportedly deposited into her Public Bank Bhd account.
She was alleged to have committed the offences between Oct 7, 2013, and Aug 4, 2014, for the first charge, between Sept 3, 2014, and Aug 11, 2015, for the second charge, and from Sept 4, 2015, to March 3, 2016 for the third charge.
The three counts alleged the offences were all committed at Public Bank Berhad, Taman Melaka Raya branch, Malacca.
The charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2002 provide a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both if convicted.
Lim, 62, Chew, 58, and Phang, 50, have claimed trial to all the charges.
Before the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur, Lim has an ongoing graft trial linked to Penang's RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project. - Mkini
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