Court sets Dec 6 to hear Lim's application to set aside committal proceedings

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today set Dec 6 to hear Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's application to set aside the leave obtained by the Attorney-General (AG) to initiate committal proceedings against him.
Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who represented Lim, told reporters that judge Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md Said set the date in chambers in the presence of senior federal counsel Datuk Amarjeet Singh representing the AG, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
On Sept 21, 2016, the court granted leave for the AG to initiate committal proceedings against Lim.
The AG had filed an originating summons on Aug 18, 2016 to seek leave for the committal proceedings to have Lim jailed for contempt-of-court for allegedly issuing statements in the print and/or social media which were detrimental to the administration of justice, leading to erosion of the people's confidence in the judicial system, and questioned the dignity and integrity of the courts.
Mohamed Apandi said the action was taken to ensure the sanctity and integrity of the judiciary, and the justice system in the country was always protected and not criticised, shamed and insulted according to one's whims and fancies.
Mohamed Apandi added that contempt-of-court should be frowned upon, failing which doubts could arise on the administration of justice in the country.
According to the AG, the statements made by Lim at a press conference in George Town, Penang, that the corruption charges against him (Lim) were a conspiracy and that he would be jailed, could be clearly interpreted as the courts were also being roped in on "trumped up corruption charges".
On June 30, 2016, Lim pleaded not guilty at the Penang High Court to corruption charges relating to the changing of status of a parcel of land from agricultural zone to housing development zone, and the purchase of a bungalow at below market price. — Bernama