By News Editor
BUTTERWORTH: Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng arrived at the Butterworth court house this morning to face a fresh bribe charge related to the controversial undersea tunnel project.
He came in a grey Proton X70 at 8.51am together with his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng.
The defense lawyers arrived in other vehicles.
Lim’s supporters were waiting outside the court complex. Spotted were Penang executive councillors including Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Deputy Chief Minister II Professor Dr P. Ramasamy, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and Youth and Sports committee chairman Soon Lip Chee.
Some were carrying placards with “Solidariti bersama Lim Guan Eng” on them.
Meanwhile, at the court house, only limited number of journalists and photographers were allowed to enter the building in order to observe physical distancing.
Four newsmen were allowed inside the courtroom while the rest were told to wait at the ground floor of the building.
They had to go through two levels of security checks before being allowed to enter the premises.
Last Friday, Lim was charged with soliciting a bribe from the company awarded the contract to undertake the controversial RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project.
He was accused of asking for 10 per cent of profits from Datuk Zarul Zulkifli to help his company, Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, secure the project to build the undersea tunnel.
He was accused of committing the offence in March 2011, claimed trial to the charges under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.–NST
