Businesswoman tells court of 2am meeting between husband and Guan Eng

Businesswoman K Geethanjali Gausillia told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today that former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng had visited her residence in Petaling Jaya in the early hours of the morning four years ago to discuss confidential matters with her husband.

Geethanjali, 35, who is also a local film actress, however said she did not know what her husband, MG Gnanaraja, had discussed with Lim because he had never shared it with her.

Recalling Lim’s visit in August 2017, Geethanjali said her husband woke her at about 2am and asked her to get ready as there were guests coming to the house.

“I was informed by my husband that the (then) chief minister of Penang (Lim) had arrived. I woke my mother who was sleeping in her room. After getting ready, we went downstairs to meet YB Lim.

“My husband then introduced me to Lim and another individual named Datuk Zarul. I can confirm that I knew Datuk Zarul because he had come to the house before to discuss matters with my husband,” she said.

She told the court this when reading out from her witness statement on the first day of Lim’s corruption trial involving the Penang undersea tunnel and road projects in the state.

Geethanjali, who runs a film-related and talent organisation business with her husband, said that during the meeting, Lim exchanged pleasantries and that they chatted casually before an individual asked her, her husband and her mother to join in a group picture with Lim.

“I can confirm that Datuk Zarul took all the pictures, using his handphone to snap them in several areas around the house… it happened spontaneously. Datuk Zarul then sent the pictures to my husband.

“As far as I remember, there were about six to seven pictures taken by Datuk Zarul at that time,” she said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.

The first prosecution witness also told the court that after the pictures were taken, her husband asked her and her mother to leave because he (her husband) had to discuss confidential matters with Lim and Zarul.

“We then left the area and went back to our rooms to continue our sleep. I confirm that after that I had no knowledge of what was discussed by my husband and YB Lim. My husband never shared information on (what was discussed between) the both of them.

“As far as I remember, YB Lim had only been to my house once while Datuk Zarul had visited several times to discuss business matters with my husband. I know nothing of what was discussed, while I have never invited YB Lim as well, besides I am not a fan or supporter of YB Lim. I took a picture with him because my husband told me to do so for memories,” she said.

During cross-examination by Lim’s counsel Gobind Singh Deo, the witness said her husband had many political acquaintances, many of whom had visited their home.

In today’s proceedings, second prosecution witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant superintendent Saadon Abd Samad, 34, also testified.

According to the first amended charge, Lim was charged with using his position as the Penang chief minister to obtain gratification amounting to RM3.3 million, as an inducement for helping a company belonging to Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure the undersea tunnel project, valued at RM6.3 million.

The offence was allegedly committed between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.

On the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting bribes amounting to 10% of the profits from Zarul to be earned by the company as gratification for helping Zarul’s company secure the project.

The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.

The Bagan MP also faces two charges of causing two plots of land, worth RM208.8 million, belonging to the Penang governmentm to be disposed of to two companies, which are linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Level 21, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017.

The trial before judge Azura Alwi continues tomorrow.