KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng is seeking to have his four corruption charges related to the undersea tunnel project dismissed.

Lim's representation was sent to the Attorney-General's Chambers in June on the grounds that there was contradicting testimony by star witness Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli to the court and in his statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The testimony was related to a RM19 million cheating case involving businessman G. Gnanaraja on the same project.

Representation is usually carried out to apply for a retraction or to lower or lessen the charge brought against an accused.

Zarul, a director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, is facing proceedings to challenge his credibility over his contradictory statements in court over Lim's on-going trial.

The proceedings will resume on July 19 before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin confirmed the matter.

Lim faces four charges of using his position as the then chief minister to solicit gratification to help Zarul's company secure the project.

He was accused of receiving RM3.3 million for himself to assist the company owned by Zarul to carry out the tunnel project and main road works worth RM6,341,383,702 between January 2011 and August 2017.

He was also charged with soliciting 10 per cent of the company's profits from Zarul for the same project.

Lim pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonest misappropriation of property by disposing of two plots of land belonging to the Penang government in Bandar Tanjong Pinang worth RM208 million to Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd and Zenith Urban Development Sdn Bhd - companies linked to the tunnel project - on Feb 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/07/1075760/lim-seeks-dismissal-graft-charges-linked-undersea-tunnel-project