KUALA LUMPUR — The Sessions Court today allowed the prosecution to amend the first charge against former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in connection with the RM6.34 billion main roads and undersea tunnel project corruption case.
Judge Azura Alwi ruled that the amendment, which removes the word “received” from the charge, was necessary to ensure compliance with Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
“Although the amendment was only submitted at the final stage of the prosecution’s case, the court is of the view that it would not prejudice or cause any injustice to the accused,” she said.
The judge added that both parties retain the right under Section 162 of the Criminal Procedure Code to recall any relevant witnesses following the amendment.
“Therefore, the court allows the prosecution’s application to amend the charge in accordance with Section 158 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” she said.
On April 20, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin informed the court that the amendment involved dropping the word “received” from the first charge.
Lim’s lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh, objected, stressing that the element of receipt was central to the charge and that its removal could prejudice the defence.
Under the first charge, Lim, 65, is accused of abusing his position as Penang chief minister to receive RM3.3 million in return for helping a company owned by businessman Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure the Penang Major Roads and Tunnel Construction Project. The alleged offence occurred at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office between January 2011 and August 2017.
The second charge alleges that the Bagan MP solicited a 10 per cent share of the project’s future profits from Zarul Ahmad for assisting his company in securing the same project. The incident reportedly took place near The Gardens Hotel here between 12.30 am and 2 am in March 2011.
Lim is also facing two charges of disposing of Penang state-owned land valued at RM208.8 million to a developer linked to the tunnel project. The alleged offences occurred at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on February 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.
The trial continued with testimony from MACC senior investigating officer Zulhilmi Ramli. - May 6, 2026
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