Kuala Lumpur: A former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) testified in the Sessions Court today, stating that the company’s acquisition of the road and undersea tunnel construction project in Penang was not coincidental.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 66, revealed that CZCSB had a distinct advantage in the tender process as he was the sole attendee of three crucial meetings in 2011 regarding the project. His testimony came during the re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin in the trial of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who faces four charges of corruption linked to the RM6.3 billion project.
When questioned by Wan Shaharuddin about potential losses, Zarul Ahmad indicated that the state government could bear the consequences. He noted that while the project’s study remained incomplete, he had already received two lots of land, suggesting the state government might be at a disadvantage. He emphasized that the ‘detail design’ of the project remains unfinished.
During the previous day’s proceedings, Zarul Ahmad, the 23rd prosecution witness, mentioned that his company benefited from the support of state government officials.
Lim, 64, is charged with abusing his position as the then chief minister of Penang to receive a RM3.3 million bribe from Zarul Ahmad to aid his company in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at over RM6.3 billion.
Additionally, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 percent bribe from the project’s future profits from Zarul Ahmad. 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.
Lim also faces charges of disposing of two state-owned lots of land in Penang, worth RM208.8 million, to a developer connected to the undersea tunnel project. These transactions allegedly took place at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on February 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.
The trial is set to continue before Judge Azura Alwi on May 14.