Guan Eng’s defence in graft case challenges statement of Ewein Bhd founder

The legal team representing former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng in his corruption trial today raised an objection against a statement recorded from Ewein Bhd founder and executive chairman Ewe Swee Keng, contending that it had been fabricated.

Ewe, the 15th prosecution witness, was due to testify in the corruption case but died on Oct 5 after reportedly falling from a condominium unit.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said the statement dated Aug 14 and recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be rejected as it did not comply with Section 30 (8) of the MACC Act.

He had queried why certain parts of the statement were handwritten and other parts in a computerised format, while the law stipulates that every part of the statement recorded by the MACC officer should be in writing.

“The first three statements separately recorded by MACC from Ewe last year seemed to exonerate Lim, but the fourth one which was recorded this year seemed to implicate my client.

“The only implication here is that it (the statement purportedly recorded by MACC from Ewe) is a fabrication. Therefore, I am applying for the court to not allow all four statements to be admitted as evidence,” he added.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin submitted that the MACC statements were legally admissible as evidence as the defence had failed to challenge the portion of the MACC recorded statements that Ewe was not compelled to give the statements.

“The defence failed to challenge page five of the MACC recorded statement, that the witness (Ewe) was not forced to give the statements and was telling the truth to the MACC,” he said.

After hearing submissions by both parties, judge Azura Alwi fixed Dec 13 to decide on the matter.

Earlier, the court heard the testimony of the 16th prosecution witness, Foo Jee Hai, 49, Emicro Services Sdn Bhd director, who said that he had introduced Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, the contractor of the Penang undersea tunnel and paired road project, to Ewe in 2011.

Lim, 60, is charged with using his position as then Penang chief minister to obtain a bribe of RM3.3 million for helping a company owned by Zarul secure the construction project worth RM6,341,383,702.

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

In 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.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, also faces two charges of causing two plots of land, worth RM208.8 million, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of to two companies, which were linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project.

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