By News Editor
BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, arrived at the Butterworth court house this morning to face fresh charges.
They arrived in a grey Proton X70 at 8.50am.
Lim alighted from his car and greeted a group of supporters at the court.
Meanwhile, businesswoman Phang Lee Koon, arrived at 8.37am.
Both Lim, 60, and Phang, 48, are expected to each face a charge under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
Chew, 56, is expected to face three charges under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLA) 2001.
All the charges, it is learnt, are not linked to the controversial Penang Undersea Tunnel project.
A group of Lim’s supporters, waiting outside the court complex, held up placards in support of the embattled lawmaker.
Present to lend their support were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and several of his state executive councillors.
Just like yesterday, 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.
Those entering the courtroom had to undergo two security screenings.
Last Friday, Lim claimed trial to 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.
Yesterday, he again claimed trial to using his position as the then chief minister to obtain RM3.3 million monetary gratification as an inducement to appoint Zarul’s company for the construction of the RM6,341,383,702 undersea tunnel and three paired roads projects.
