KUALA LUMPUR – A prosecution witness in Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial whom the defence is seeking to impeach, became agitated in court today when pressed on media statements made earlier denying elements of corruption in the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Datuk Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli, who was formerly director of the project’s developer, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), was questioned by Lim’s lawyer Haijan Omar in the sessions court here over contradictory facts in his press statement and what he told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in his witness statement.
Haijan pointed out that while Zarul had said there were no elements of corruption in his press statement, he had told the MACC that he had given millions as a bribe to businessman G. Ganaraja, who is facing separate corruption charges.
Zarul grew frustrated when Haijan pushed him on the matter during cross-examination in impeachment proceedings today, refusing to answer the lawyer succinctly and attempting to give longer explanations.
Haijan asked Zarul to confirm that in press articles from July 2018 to March 2019, he had denied elements of corruption in the project.
“I think I’ve issued a press statement on this… in my press statement, not witness statement,” Zarul replied.
Zarul then agreed with Haijan’s contention that he had denied giving any bribe to Lim.
He also agreed when Haijan pointed out he (Zarul) had demanded businessman Ganaraja to repay RM19 million which according to his own testimony, was for a bribe.
Zarul also agreed with the lawyer that he (Zarul) never instructed his own lawyer to issue any letter of demand to Lim, asking for the purported RM2 million back – the sum which Lim is being charged with corruption.
On Monday, Zarul and Haijan had also clashed when the defence lawyer pointed out gaps in the witness’ statements.
While Zarul had said in court that the RM2 million cheque in Lim’s case was the same one in Ganaraja’s case, he had not told the MACC this. Instead, Zarul had told the anti-graft agency that he had given a RM19 million bribe to Ganaraja, which included the RM2 million.
On Monday, Zarul had also agreed with Haijan’s suggestions that he had given the RM19 million to Ganaraja, to be passed on to the then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the purpose of shutting down any MACC investigation into Zarul’s company, CZCSB.
Lim’s defence team is seeking to impeach Zarul for being an unreliable witness.
The proceedings were cut short again today after Zarul said he felt unwell and needed to take his medicines.
The impeachment proceedings will continue before judge Azura Alwi on March 15.
On October 23, last year, Zarul testified in the trial against Lim that he had given RM2 million each to Lim and Najib, through Ganaraja.
Lim, 63, was charged with using his position as the then Penang chief minister to solicit gratification to help Zarul’s company secure the tunnel project.
The DAP chairman is also accused of receiving RM3.3 million for himself and causing two plots of the state government’s lands to be disposed of to two companies linked to the project. – March 6, 2024