60 witnesses to be called for Guan Eng's corruption trial

Sixty witnesses will be called up for the corruption trial of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon commencing on March 27 next year.

High Court Justice Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail has fixed various dates for the trial, which will run from March 27 until July 21, 2017.

The trial dates are March 27 until 31, April 10 until 14, April 24 until 28, May 15 until 19, May 29 until June 2, June 13 until 16 and July 17 until 21.

She said both parties including the prosecutors have agreed on the dates given.

Hadhariah also ordered both parties to complete the agreed documents and submit them to the court on January 6 - a date which the High Court has set for the trial's case management.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, pleaded not guilty to a charge of using his position as a public servant to obtain gratification for himself and his wife Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert two lots of agricultural land for residential development.

Lim was charged with committing the offense during a state planning committee meeting July 18, 2014.

He was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of gratification or RM10,000, which­ever is higher.

Lim also denied another charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code of using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from Phang at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million.

He was charged with committing the offense at No 25 Jalan Pinhorn, George Town here on July 28, 2015, while Phang faces an abetment charge for allegedly selling the bungalow.