Lim Guan Eng Receives Two Bags Containing RM2 Million - Witness

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The key witness in the Penang undersea tunnel corruption trial involving Lim Guan Eng told the Sessions Court here today that he personally handed over two black bags containing RM2 million to the former Penang Chief Minister.

Businessman Datuk Seri G. Gnanaraja, 44, testified that he received the two bags, each containing RM1 million, from Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, then Director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), at the Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya on Aug 18, 2017, for delivery to Lim.

“After I received the two black bags containing RM1 million each, I kept them in my study. On Aug 20, 2017, I took one bag with me and handed it over to Lim when I dropped him off at Publika, Hartamas.

“Lim took the bag and then patted Zarul Ahmad, who was in the driver’s seat, on the shoulder. I felt that Lim’s gesture was a sign of gratitude for receiving the bag containing RM1 million,” said Gnanaraja.

The 37th prosecution witness said this when reading out his witness statement in the trial of a corruption case involving Lim in the construction of major roads and an undersea tunnel project in Penang.

Gnanaraja said he took the second bag containing RM1 million from his study and placed it in his Bentley car at about 10 pm on Aug 28, 2017, after receiving a text message from Zarul Ahmad.

According to him, he took out the bag from his car boot and handed it to Lim, who came to his house around 2 to 3 am on Aug 29, 2017.

“He (Lim) accepted the bag with his right hand while smiling, then got into the car and placed it on his lap. At that time, Zarul Ahmad was sitting in the front passenger seat. The vehicle carrying Lim and Zarul Ahmad then left my residence. I do not know where they went after that,” he said.

Earlier that day, Gnanaraja said he and Lim had a confidential discussion for about an hour at his residence regarding the finances of the tunnel project, including matters of funding, receipts, and disbursements.

“To my knowledge, the estimated value of the tunnel project is RM6.3 billion. Lim told me that 10 per cent of the project’s profit was for himself. He also said Zarul Ahmad had agreed to his request for that 10 per cent,” he said,

According to the amended first charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as the then chief minister of Penang, of abusing his position to receive a bribe of RM3.3 million to assist a company owned by Zarul Ahmad in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at RM6,341,383,702.

The offence allegedly took place between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Chief Minister’s Office in Penang.

For the amended second charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 per cent bribe out of the project’s future profits from Zarul Ahmad for assisting his company in securing the same project.

The offence allegedly took place near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30 am and 2.00 am in March 2011.

Additionally, Lim faces two charges 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 allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.

The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA