KUALA LUMPUR: A former director of the Penang Lands and Mines Department claimed he was unaware of several transactions related to the Penang undersea tunnel project. The 35th prosecution witness, Datuk Akmar Omar, testified in the corruption trial involving former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng that he had no knowledge of payments amounting to RM74.8mil made between Nov 18, 2013, and March 30, 2015, by Ewein Zenith Bhd to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd (CZBUCG).
DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib asked Akmar if he was aware of the transactions.
Listing the transactions, Ahmad said the first payment was RM12.5mil on Nov 18, 2013, followed by RM800,000 on Dec 23, 2013, and RM500,000 each on March 24, April 4, and April 24, 2014. The remaining payments were RM3.3mil on May 3, 2014, RM3.5mil on Sept 5, 2014, and two transactions worth RM48.2mil plus RM5mil on March 30, 2015.
Ahmad asked, “Do you know that CZBUCG received payments from Ewein Zenith for the land swap since 2013?”
Akmar responded, “Not to my knowledge.”
Ahmad then asked, “As of March 30, 2015, who owned the land?” Akmar replied, “The Penang state government.”
During cross-examination by lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo, Akmar acknowledged that CZBUCG did not receive special treatment but was given greater focus by the state government due to it being a major infrastructure project. He also agreed that the project required special attention and necessary permissions.
Gobind asked, “Is there no other similar project in Penang?” Akmar confirmed, “Yes.”
Gobind continued, “Since this project warrants special attention, the state government would surely give it focus?” Akmar replied, “Correct.”
Gobind clarified, “So, this is not special treatment but rather ensuring smooth project implementation?” Akmar answered, “Yes, correct.”
CZBUCG, owned by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, was awarded the undersea tunnel project. Former state exco member Datuk Lim Hock Seng, the third prosecution witness, previously testified that the state government gave CZBUCG two plots of land totaling 2.3ha for completing feasibility studies and detailed design work for the project’s three paired roads. These plots of land were later used for the development of the City of Dreams service apartments project by Ewein Zenith.
Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng, founder and executive chairman of Ewein Bhd, who was due to be the 15th prosecution witness, was found dead after a fall from a Pulau Tikus condominium on Oct 5, 2021.
Earlier, both the defence and prosecution teams engaged in a dispute after Gobind requested the recusal of DPP Nik Haslinie Hashim from the trial due to alleged suppression of evidence. Gobind argued that Nik Haslinie was part of the prosecution team in a separate case at the Shah Alam Sessions Court involving several of the same witnesses.
Gobind claimed that the witnesses, including CZCSB director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, had lied in their testimonies regarding the recipient of RM2mil mentioned in the payment voucher and cheque as shown in the forensic report from the Shah Alam court, which presented two different versions of statements from the two courts.
In the Shah Alam case, businessman G. Gnanaraja was initially charged with cheating Zarul Ahmad of RM19mil in 2019. However, he pleaded guilty to an alternative charge under the Companies Act in Dec 2020 and was fined RM230,000. The cheating case has been classified as “no further action” (NFA). Zarul Ahmad is currently testifying in the ongoing trial, while Gnanaraja is expected to be called as a prosecution witness soon.
In response to the defence’s request to recuse Nik Haslinie, DPP Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected, stating that the allegations were made without evidence. He further stated that the defence could call Nik Haslinie as a witness during the trial later, as long as there is a subpoena. Judge Azura Alwi stated that she would only consider the recusal request if the defence team submits a formal written application.
The trial continues on Thursday.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
