Lim Guan Eng Granted Permanent Release Of Passport

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court here today allowed former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s application for the permanent release of his international passport, as he is required to travel abroad frequently for official duties.

Judge Azura Alwi, however, ruled that the bail condition be varied to require Lim to report to the Penang office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during the first week of every month pending the disposal of the case and the RM1 million bail amount was maintained.

Earlier, lawyer Mohd Haijan Omar, representing Lim, told the court that Lim had been appointed as one of the Honorary Chairmen of the Asean-Chian Association for the Promotion of Industrial Cooperation and Development (ACAPICD).

"As one of the Honorary Chairmen of ACAPICD, the applicant (Lim) is required to travel abroad frequently to attend meetings, conventions or international exhibitions. 

"The applicant is applying for a permanent release of his passport, not for holiday purposes, but for official purposes to represent the Malaysian government. His presence is required, as no one else can attend in his capacity. Repeatedly applying for the temporary release of his passport would belittle and embarrass the accused,” said the lawyer.

Deputy public prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin objected to the application, arguing that given the seriousness of the charges and the severity of the penalties provided by law, it could not be ruled out that the accused could flee.

"The applicant has the opportunity to interfere with prosecution witnesses with the applicant's position as an influential politician. Therefore, a high bail amount with strict conditions, as proposed, is important to warn the accused not to be inclined towards doing so," she said.

She also said that the repeated need to apply for a temporary release of a passport does not belittle or embarrass the accused, as it is a normal procedure faced by anyone charged in court.

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, the Bagan Member of Parliament 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 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 two lots of state-owned 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.

-- BERNAMA