Court sets Dec 6 for case management of Guan Eng's corruption case

The Penang High Court today fixed Dec 6 for the case management of the corruption case involving Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Maginificent Emblem Sdn Bhd shareholder Phang Li Koon over a land rezoning and the puchase of a bungalow below market value.

Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail fixed the date to ensure the prosecution that 30 volumes of documents were properly indexed and duly handed over to the defense and the court.

Hadhariah said she did not want the case to be adjourned.

Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud and Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.

Lim was represented by Counsel Gobind Singh Deo while lawyer Hisham Teh Poh Teik represented Phang.

Lim had earlier arrived at the court complex in the official state vehicle accompanied by Gobind Singh and two other lawyers -- Ram Karpal Singh and R.S.N. Rayer.

Meanwhile, about 100 of Lim's supporters gathered outside, along Light Street, as well as another group of people demanding the resignation of the chief minister, had caused some commotion in front of the court yard.

However, police managed to control the situation before it escalated to a fight.

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.