Latest news with #ZarulAhmadZulkifli
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Witness hopes Guan Eng will be acquitted in undersea tunnel graft case
Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli previously testified that he had given a truthful account to MACC officers during their investigation. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : A key witness in Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial told the sessions court today that he hoped the former Penang chief minister would be acquitted of the graft charges related to the undersea tunnel project. Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli, who said he felt 'indebted' to Lim for helping him secure the project, admitted that he had tried to shield the politician from investigation. 'I didn't want any of the evidence obtained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during its probe to be presented in court,' Zarul told the court. Earlier this month, Zarul testified that he had given a truthful account to MACC officers during their investigation. He said the agency confronted him with documents related to the project, and that he 'had no choice but to tell them what happened'. He also admitted in court that he had instructed his then finance manager, Azli Adam, to prepare fake invoices to hide the payments made to Lim. 'I know what I did with the dummy invoices was wrong, but I wanted to protect YB Lim so there wouldn't be a money trail leading back to him,' Zarul said. The court also heard from MACC investigating officer Eng Heng Jun, who testified that Zarul had lodged a report against fellow businessman G Gnanaraja for allegedly cheating him of RM19 million. Eng said Gnanaraja was charged with three counts of cheating in the Shah Alam sessions court but pleaded guilty to an alternative charge in 2020 under Section 218(1) of the Companies Act. He was fined RM230,000. Lim is accused of using his position as Penang chief minister to solicit a 10% share of profits from the undersea tunnel project and receiving RM3.3 million in bribes from Zarul. He also faces two charges of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land. The hearing continues before judge Azura Alwi on June 24.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
I told MACC the truth, witness says in Guan Eng's trial
Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli said he was neither pressured nor forced to make false claims against then Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The key witness in Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial told the sessions court today he had given a truthful account to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission during its investigation of the Penang undersea tunnel project. Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli said he was one of the last people questioned by MACC in 2018, and that he was remanded for 11 days. 'MACC showed me all the documents they had (related to the project). They had already gathered strong evidence from various parties,' Zarul told the court. 'I had no choice but to tell them what happened.' He said he was neither pressured nor forced to make false claims against Lim. Zarul also said that while MACC and the Inland Revenue Board had raided his office in 2017, they only seized documents. He said a safe containing cash was left untouched. He claimed that the money was for emergencies and supporting candidates ahead of the 2018 general election. Lim is charged with using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Zarul for a 10% cut of the profits from the undersea tunnel project and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks from the businessman. He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land. Earlier, Lim's lawyer, Haijan Omar, told the court the defence would resubmit Lim's defence statement as the prosecution had confirmed it was not in its records. The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues on Aug 26.
