Ex-CZCSB director says in the dark over amount of money given to Guan Eng for tunnel project

The former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that he did not know how much was allegedly given to Lim Guan Eng in connection with the construction of the roads and undersea tunnel project in Penang.

Ibrahim Sahari, 58, the 29th prosecution witness, also told the court that he did not know the purpose or manner in which the money was given to the former Penang chief minister.

He said this when questioned by Lim’s lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, at Lim’s trial for four charges related to the RM6.3 billion project.

Gobind: You never saw to whom the money was paid?

Ibrahim: Agree.

Reading from his witness statement, Ibrahim said that in January 2018, his counterpart, Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 62, confessed to him and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that he (Zarul) had made payments to Lim after his release from MACC detention.

“However, Zarul did not tell me the amount or manner in which the money was given to Lim,” he said, adding that he had met Lim during official meetings between the company and the Penang government.

In a previous proceeding, Zarul told the court that Lim had sought bribes of 10% of the profit to be earned by Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group (CZBUCG) from the roads and undersea tunnel project.

Ibrahim also admitted to the court that he had prepared fake invoices, vouchers and company accounts as instructed by Zarul.

Gobind: Zarul ordered you to commit an offence?

Ibrahim: Only for the transactions (related to the falsification of documents).

Gobind: You are a “penyangak” (rogue).

Ibrahim: No, I just followed instructions… I only acted in the interest of the company.

Lim, 61, faces an amended charge of using his position as Penang chief minister to solicit RM3.3 million in bribes as an inducement to assist CZBUCG owner Zarul secure the project worth RM6,341,383,702.

Lim allegedly committed the offence at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office, Level 28, Komtar, George Town, between January 2011 and August 2017.

In the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting bribes of 10% of the profit from the company as gratification to secure the project.

The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City in March 2011.

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

The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues on July 25.