Dec 18 : Management of corruption, money laundering case involving Lim, wife, Phang

BUTTERWORTH: The Sessions Court here today set Dec 18 for case management of the corruption and money laundering charges faced by former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.

Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid set the date after deputy public prosecutor S. Selvaranjini, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and counsel RSN Rayer requested new dates for the case management when the matter came up for mention today.

Selvaranjini informed the court that the prosecution needed more time as there were still some documents that they had not given to the defence as required under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code, while Rayer said the defence would need time to study the documents submitted by the prosecution.

Lim, his wife and Phang were not in court as they had been exempted from attending today’s proceeding.

Last Aug 11, Lim was charged, in his capacity as the Chief Minister of Penang and chairman of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Procurement Board then, with using his position for gratification, involving RM372,009 for his wife through a company, Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd.

It 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, worth RM11,610,000, where Chew indirectly had interest.

The Bagan Member of Parliament was charged with committing the offence between Aug 19, 2013 and March 3, 2016, at the office of the Penang Chief Minister, Level 28, KOMTAR, in George Town, Penang.

The charge was framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides an imprisonment for 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.

Meanwhile, Chew pleaded not guilty to three counts of money laundering by receiving RM372,009 from a company through her bank account.

On all three charges, Chew was alleged to have received RM87,009, RM180,000 and RM105,000, respectively, which were proceeds from unlawful activities from Excel Property Management & Consultancy Sdn Bhd , and deposited into her Public Bank Berhad 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 (second charge) and from Sept 4, 2015 to March 3, 2016 (third charge), all at Public Bank Berhad, Taman Melaka Raya branch, Melaka.

The charges were made under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2002, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.

Lim, 60, Chew, 56, and Phang, 48, pleaded not guilty to all the charges made against them.

-- BERNAMA