Guan Eng claims trial to charges of power abuse, graft (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also DAP secretary-general, claimed trial yesterday to charges of abuse of power and graft at the High Court here. Bail was set at RM1 million.
The bespectacled state assemblyman for Air Putih, clad in a suit and red tie, was a picture of calm when the charges were read to him.
On the first charge, he was accused of allegedly abusing his position as chief minister to obtain benefits for himself and his wife Betty Chew.
He was accused of committing the offence on July 18, 2014 at Komtar when he chaired the State Planning Committee (SPC) meeting to rezone Lot 436 and Lot 437 in the southwest district from agriculture to residential housing for Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd.
The offence comes under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a maximum 20-year jail term and not less than five times the amount of the benefit if it can be counted in cash or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
On the second charge, he is alleged to have obtained a plot of land and house, namely No. 25, Jalan Pinhorn, for the price of RM2.8 million when the valuation at that time was RM4.27 million, from one Phang Li Koon. He was alleged to have committed the offence on July 28, 2015 at the Jalan Pinhorn property. The offence, under the Penal Code, carries a maximum two-year prison sentence, or fine, or both.
Phang, dressed in a black and white print dress, was later charged with abetting Lim to obtain a benefit, which is the land and house on No. 25, Jalan Pinhorn, knowing that they have official business together. She was accused of committing the act on July 28, 2015. The charge, under the Penal Code, carries a maximum two-year prison sentence, or fine, or both upon conviction.
The charges were initially read to Lim and Phang at the sessions court but Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali, who was the lead prosecutor, requested the case be transferred to the High Court.
At the High Court, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azmin Ariffin read the charges again to Lim and Phang, with both pleading not guilty.
Azmin set bail at RM1 million in one surety for Lim and ordered that he notify the court and Attorney-General’s Chambers two days before he leaves the country. His passport was not seized.
Bail for Phang was set at RM200,000 in one surety with no additional conditions.
Azmin fixed Sept 22 for case management for both Phang and Lim.
The prosecution was led by Apandi, who was assisted by six Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP), Masri Mohd Daud, Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Budiman Luft Mohamed, Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, Mohd Zain Ibrahim and Muhammad Fadzlan Mohd Noor.
Lim was defended by Gobind Singh, Ramkarpal Singh, RSN Rayer, M. Manoharan, P. Subramaniam and M. Kulasegaran.
Phang was represented by Datuk K. Kumaraendran, K. Dev Kumar, Raj Shankar and Chetan Jethawani.
When Lim arrived at the Penang Court Complex earlier, he was greeted by hundreds of supporters who chanted “Bebas Guan Eng” (Free Guan Eng) repeatedly and were not deterred by the wet weather.
Inside the courtroom, Lim was seen assuring his mother that he was fine and sharing a hug with his wife Betty Chew, father and Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang and other party colleagues prior to the proceedings.