Witness denies perjuring in Guan Eng's corruption case

A former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) has denied lying under oath while testifying in Lim Guan Eng’s corruption case. Ibrahim Sahari, 59, responded to cross-examination from Lim’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo regarding inconsistencies in his witness statements between the Shah Alam Sessions Court and the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. The issue was raised by Gobind after Ibrahim stated in the Shah Alam court that Zarul Ahmad had informed him of being cheated by G. Gnanaraja, who had asked for RM19mil as an inducement to close a money-laundering case.

Gnanaraja allegedly demanded the RM19mil bribe to help close the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) money-laundering case against Zarul Ahmad. However, during proceedings in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on June 28, 2022, Ibrahim testified that Zarul Ahmad had confessed to making a payment to Lim after being released by the agency. Ibrahim also admitted to falsifying invoices and vouchers for funds that were used as bribes for Lim.

During cross-examination by Tiara Katrina Fuad, another lawyer representing Lim, Ibrahim affirmed his statement in the Shah Alam court that the RM19mil given to Gnanaraja was indeed intended to close the money-laundering case against Zarul Ahmad. In his examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul last Friday, Ibrahim explained that his statements in the Shah Alam court differed from those in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court due to different charges and individuals being involved.

Lim, 62, faces an amended charge of accepting a RM3.3mil bribe as the former Penang Chief Minister in exchange for helping Zarul Ahmad’s company secure a construction project worth RM6.3 billion. The alleged bribe was said to have been accepted at the Office of the Chief Minister in Penang between January 2011 and August 2017. Lim is also accused of soliciting a bribe of 10% of the company’s profits at The Gardens Hotel in March 2011, as an inducement for obtaining the project.

In addition, Lim faces two charges of disposing two plots of land worth RM208.8mil owned by the Penang government to companies allegedly linked to the undersea tunnel project. The hearing before Judge Azura Alwi will resume on October 23.