Guan Eng, Phang plead not guilty to amended charges in graft trial (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: A witness told the High Court here today that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had bought a luxury bungalow at a price below the market value.
Facebook account holder Mohsin Abdul Latif, 34, who is the first prosecution witness in the corruption trial involving Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon, maintained that Lim bought the house at an unreasonable price.
He maintained the price was not right even when pushed by lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who represents Lim.
"I lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on March 18, 2016 for investigations to be carried out.
"The bungalow house at Jalan Pinhorn was priced at RM2.5 million and a few years later sold for RM2.8 million. In my opinion, the price is not right," he said in the trial, held before judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail.
However, those in court burst into laughter when Mohsin admitted that he lodged the report to MACC based on information he gathered from the WhatsApp messaging service and TV3 news.
"I watched the TV3 live televised debate between Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahya and Lim at parliament about the under market price bungalow. Some information I received through WhatsApps and social media," he said.
The trial began with the prosecution submitting amended charges to both of the accused.
Lim and Phang pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
For the first amended charge, Lim was charged with using his position as a public officer, namely, Chief Minister of Penang, to gain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the application for conversion of agricultural land to a public housing zone in southwest Penang, to Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd.
Lim, 58, was charged with committing the offence while chairing the Penang State Planning Committee meeting at the operations room, Level 28, Komtar building here, on July 18, 2014.
The amended charge involve the change of language of "civil servant" to "public officer".
The charge under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 provides for an imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the second amended charge, Lim was charged with using his position to obtain for himself a plot of land and a bungalow, located at No 25, Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, from Phang for RM2.8 million, a price which he allegedly knew was not commensurate with the property's then market value of RM4.27 million.
The offence was allegedly committed at No 25 Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, here on Oct 21, 2015 (instead of July 28, 2015 as stated in the original charge).
The charge was framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides an imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Phang also pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of abetting Lim in obtaining the bungalow at an undervalued cost at the same place and date.
She was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 165 of the same law, which provides for an imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Lim and Phang arrived at the court room at 8.50am, with the public gallery filled with their family members and supporters.
The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud, while Lim is represented by a panel of lawyers, including Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh and RSN Rayer.
Lawyers Datuk V. Sithambaram and Hisyam Teh Poh Teik acted on behalf of Phang.
The trial continues tomorrow.