MACC officer rejects claim Penang undersea tunnel project probe ‘one-sided’
Investigating officer Zulhilmi Ramli denies authorities coerced three witnesses into implicating Lim Guan Eng in wrongdoing.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer investigating the Penang undersea tunnel project refuted claims of a biased inquiry. Zulhilmi Ramli stated during cross-examination by Lim Guan Eng's lawyer, Haijan Omar, that the probe was not one-sided. The defense alleged that the MACC did not acquire essential documents from key witness Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli, who claimed to have evidence supporting his participation in the tunnel project's feasibility studies and detailed design.
However, Zulhilmi disagreed with this assertion, maintaining that his investigations were thorough and impartial. Rayer, co-counsel for Lim Guan Eng, questioned the officer about the investigations against Zarul, businessman G Gnanaraja, and the late tycoon Ewe Swee Kheng, asserting that previous investigations found no wrongdoing implicating Lim.
Zulhilmi affirmed that the MACC conducted further investigations and obtained additional statements, denying any forced confessions or bias. Lim is accused of seeking a 10% share of profits from the undersea tunnel project and receiving RM3.3 million in bribes from Zarul, in addition to two charges of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land. The trial continues with a new hearing scheduled for August 7.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
