More than 100 documents submitted to defence over corruption, money laundering case facing Lim, wife, Phang - Prosecution

Deputy public prosecutor Syafiq Hasim informed Sessions Court Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid this during the case management today.

He also told the court that the prosecution would submit five more documents, along with more than 100 other documents that had been submitted previously, in the form of hard copy, as requested by the defence.

Lawyer RSN Rayer, representing Lim and Betty, did not object to it and the court set Feb 19 for mention, as had been agreed by both parties.

Also present in court today was lawyer, A. Rueban, representing Phang. However, all the three accused were not in court as they had been exempted from today’s proceedings by the court.

Lim, 60, Chew, 56, and Phang , 48, were charged in the Sessions Court last Aug 11 with corruption and money laundering.

All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges made against them which were read out before judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid, who then allowed them bail of RM50,000 in one surety each.

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.