logo
Witness says he told MACC superiors about payments given to Lim Guan Eng

Witness says he told MACC superiors about payments given to Lim Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer (IO) told the Sessions Court here today that he had informed his superiors about Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli's statement over money paid to Lim Guan Eng in connection with the Penang undersea tunnel project case.
MACC Senior Superintendent Ng Heng Jun said during a fraud investigation on Dec 9, 2019, Zarul Ahmad, who was then the director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), revealed he had given money to both G. Gnanaraja and Lim.
"Datuk Zarul only told me in general terms about the money given to Lim. I was not involved in the investigation into the money given to Lim because the case was handled by another investigating officer.
"I then reported the matter to the MACC superiors, and I was informed that a special investigation would be conducted into the case," said Ng, who is the investigating officer in the RM19 million fraud case involving Gnanaraja.
The 36th prosecution witness said this during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh at the trial of the corruption case involving the construction of a major road and undersea tunnel project in Penang worth RM6.3 billion, involving the former Penang chief minister.
Ng said he never stopped Zarul Ahmad, who is the 23rd prosecution witness, from giving evidence to the MACC regarding the money given to Lim.
"I asked him (Zarul Ahmad) to give evidence regarding the handing over of money to Lim for the case against Lim because I don't want Datuk Zarul's evidence to be mixed up with the case I am investigating, because the two cases are different," he said.
According to the amended first charge, Lim, 64, is charged in his capacity as the then chief minister of Penang, of abusing his position to receive a bribe of RM3.3 million to assist a company owned by Zarul Ahmad in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at RM6,341,383,702.
The offence allegedly took place between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Chief Minister's Office in Penang.
Under the amended second charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 per cent bribe out of the project's future profits from Zarul Ahmad for assisting his company in securing the same project.
The offence allegedly took place near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30am and 2.00am in March 2011.
Additionally, Lim faces two charges of disposing of a couple of state-owned lots of land in Penang, valued at RM208.8 million, to a developer linked to the undersea tunnel project.
These offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn hit by ethics investigation, source and media say
Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn hit by ethics investigation, source and media say

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn hit by ethics investigation, source and media say

BANGKOK: Thailand's anti-graft body will investigate suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for alleged ethnics violations over a leaked phone call with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen, an official and local media said on Monday. The investigation will be another blow to the beleaguered government of 38-year-old Paetongtarn, Thailand's youngest premier, who the Constitutional Court suspended from duty earlier this month over the same issue. The leaked June 15 call, during which Paetongtarn appeared to kowtow before Hun Sen and criticised a Thai army commander, triggered a major backlash at home, with allegations she had undermined Thailand's integrity and sovereignty amid a heated territorial dispute with Cambodia. Paetongtarn has since seen protests calling for her resignation and the exit from her coalition of its second-largest party, leaving her government with a razor-thin majority. 'The commission has set up an investigation panel. There is no timeframe,' said an official from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter. The body has a broad remit to probe allegations of offences by state officials beyond graft. Multiple Thai media outlets on Monday reported it had decided to investigate Pateongtarn. The NACC secretary-general Sarote Phuengrampan told reporters he was not aware of the investigation or any decision by commissioners. The complaint came from 36 senators who also petitioned the Constitutional Court alleging Paetongtarn, the daughter of politically influential billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, had violated ethical standards and intentionally abused her power. She is suspended from duty until a verdict is delivered. Paetongtarn has apologised for the call and insisted she was trying to find a peaceful solution to an escalating row with Cambodia, which saw a troop buildup on both sides of their border. Paetongtarn's battles after only 10 months in office underline a deep rift in Thailand between the Shinawatra political dynasty and its rivals among a conservative establishment backed by the army, a long-running power struggle that has seen two coups and the fall of multiple parties and prime ministers by court orders. – Reuters

State civil servant remanded for alleged abuse of power in land misappropriation
State civil servant remanded for alleged abuse of power in land misappropriation

The Sun

time6 hours ago

  • The Sun

State civil servant remanded for alleged abuse of power in land misappropriation

KUALA TERENGGANU: A state civil servant in Terengganu has been remanded for five days starting today over allegations of abusing his position in government land applications. The remand order, issued by Magistrate Iffah Nabihah Mohd Ishak, follows an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Magistrate's Court here. The suspect, a man in his 50s, was detained yesterday afternoon after arriving to give a statement at the MACC Terengganu office. A source revealed that initial investigations suggest the offences occurred between 2019 and 2023, involving manipulation of land plans and processing land-related matters for his children's benefit. Following the arrest, MACC Terengganu seized two plots of land in a district within the state, measuring around 9,000 and 6,000 square feet, for further investigation. Terengganu MACC director Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid confirmed the arrest, stating the case is being probed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009.

MACC arrests Terengganu official for alleged abuse of power in land deals
MACC arrests Terengganu official for alleged abuse of power in land deals

Malay Mail

time8 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

MACC arrests Terengganu official for alleged abuse of power in land deals

KUALA TERENGGANU, July 14 — A Terengganu state civil servant has been remanded for five days beginning today for allegedly abusing his position in relation to several government land applications in the state. The remand order until Friday was issued by Magistrate Iffah Nabihah Mohd Ishak following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the Magistrate's Court here today. According to a source, the male suspect, in his 50s, was detained at around 2pm yesterday when he had come to give a statement at the MACC Terengganu office. 'Initial investigations found that the suspect is believed to have committed the offences between 2019 and 2023, involving the manipulation of land plans and handling various land-related processes in the state for the benefit of his children,' the source said. Following the arrest, the source added that MACC Terengganu has seized two plots of land in a district in the state, measuring approximately 9,000 and 6,000 square feet, for investigation purposes. Meanwhile, Terengganu MACC director Hazrul Shazreen Abd Yazid confirmed the arrest when contacted and said the case was being investigated under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009. — Bernama

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store