Guan Eng Corruption Trial: Investigating Officer Unaware Of Zarul Ahmad's Links To Another Company

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- An investigating officer told the Sessions Court today that he was unaware that former Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli had links to another construction company that participated in the open tender for the Penang undersea tunnel and three main roads project.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Headquarters Investigation Division Senior Superintendent Zulhilmi Ramli said that besides Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group (CZBUCG), VST Cemerlang Sdn Bhd had also submitted a bid for the mega project through the open tender process.

However, he said he was unsure whether Zarul Ahmad had planted VST Cemerlang as a bidder, and only knew that the businessman had links with CZBUCG.

The 38th prosecution witness said this during cross-examination by defence counsel Haijan Omar in the corruption trial of former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng involving the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and main roads project.

When asked by the lawyer whether his investigation showed that Zarul Ahmad had secretly placed VST Cemerlang in the bidding process, Zulhilmi replied that he was not sure.

Further questioned on whether he knew if Zarul Ahmad had any influence or interest in VST Cemerlang that enabled the company to participate in the tender, Zulhilmi answered: “I do not know.”

Haijan then suggested that the witness had never investigated the matter and was unaware of the reasons, basis and interests behind VST Cemerlang’s participation in the tender.

However, Zulhilmi disagreed and said his investigation was conducted based on the complaint lodged.

When the lawyer suggested that the matter had been overlooked during the investigation, Zulhilmi again maintained that he disagreed.

Earlier, in his witness statement, Zulhilmi said CZBUCG was the best company among the five bidders evaluated for the project.

According to him, CZBUCG scored 93 per cent compared with the nearest bidder, VST Cemerlang, which scored 77 per cent, resulting in CZBUCG being awarded the tender for the project.

Lim, 65, is charged with using his position as Penang chief minister to obtain gratification of RM3.3 million for himself by helping a company owned by Zarul Ahmad secure the RM6,341,383,702 Penang roads and undersea tunnel project at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office between January 2011 and August 2017.

For the second charge, the Bagan MP is accused of soliciting a bribe amounting to 10 per cent of the profits to be earned by Zarul Ahmad as an inducement for helping the businessman’s company secure the same project. The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, here, between 12.30 am and 2 am in March 2011.

He also faces two charges of causing two plots of Penang government land worth RM208.8 million to be disposed of to a developer company linked to the undersea tunnel project. The offences were allegedly committed at the Penang State Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.

The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues on July 23.

-- BERNAMA