Penang: The key witness in the Penang undersea tunnel corruption case involving Lim Guan Eng told the Sessions Court today that he acted on behalf of the former Penang chief minister to ensure all matters related to company formation and bank account openings were executed. Businessman Datuk Seri G Gnanaraja, 44, made the statement while being examined by Lim's counsel, Ramkarpal Singh, during the trial concerning alleged corruption in the construction of major roads and the undersea tunnel project in Penang.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gnanaraja revealed during his testimony that he only met Lim twice in 2017, when Lim requested him to set up a company and open a bank account to receive payments related to the project. Gnanaraja denied Ramkarpal's assertion that Bumi Muhibah Sdn Bhd was established for fraudulent purposes, stating that he did not lie about Lim's request.
Lim, 64, is facing charges of abusing his position as the then chief minister of Penang to receive a bribe of RM3.3 million to assist Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, then director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at approximately RM6.34 billion. These allegations span from January 2011 to August 2017 at the Chief Minister's Office in Penang.
Furthermore, under the amended second charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 percent kickback from the project's future profits from Zarul Ahmad for assisting his company in securing the same project. This solicitation allegedly occurred near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30 am and 2.00 am in March 2011.
In addition to these charges, Lim is also facing accusations of disposing of a couple of state-owned lots of land in Penang, valued at RM208.8 million, to a developer linked to the undersea tunnel project. These offences were reportedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.
The trial is set to continue before Judge Azura Alwi on Oct 14.