Guan Eng charged with soliciting bribe

By Sharanjit Singh, Khairah N Karim

August 7, 2020 @ 10:18am

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Finance Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was charged today with soliciting a bribe from the company awarded the contract to undertake the controversial RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project.

He was accused of asking for 10 per cent of profits from the project from Datuk Zarul Zulkifli to help the latter's company secure the project to build the undersea tunnel.

The former Penang Chief Minister, who was accused of committing the offence in March 2011, claimed trial to the charges under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

He faces a maximum 20 years' jail and a fine of up to five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Section 16 states that any person who corruptly solicits or receives or gives any gratification for himself or for any other person as an inducement doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter commits an offence.

Lim was represented by fellow DAP comrades Gobind Singh Deo, Ram Karpal Singh and RSN Rayer, while the prosecution was led by Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who was assisted by deputy public prosecutor Akram Abu Gharib.

Among those present in court when Lim was charged were his father and DAP supremo, Lim Kit Siang; Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow; former Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, former Transport Minister Anthony Loke and other DAP leaders.

Lim entered the courtroom at about 9.40am and immediately walked towards his father, who was seated in the public gallery. They hugged each other over the railings before other DAP leaders approached and fist-bumped their leader.

It was reported that Lim was detained by the MACC last night after he surrendered himself at the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya.

The MACC said Lim is also expected to be charged at the Penang Sessions Court this Monday and Tuesday under Section 23 of the MACC Act for other cases.

The controversial Penang undersea tunnel project was again probed by the anti-graft authority recently following fresh leads. The MACC has questioned more than a dozen people in connection with the project, including Chow and state executive councillors Jagdeep Singh Deo, Chong Eng, and Phee Boon Poh

The MACC also visited the offices of state Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and Deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy at Komtar in Penang.

Lim served as Penang Chief Minister from 2008 to 2018.