GEORGE TOWN: The first witness called to testify in the first day of the corruption trial involving Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon told the High Court here that the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow was bought below market value.
During the trial before Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail, a Facebook page administrator and social media marketer Muhsin Abdul Latheef, 34, said that Lim had purchased the No 25 Jalan Pinhorn property at RM2.8 million.
He said this was based on the parliamentary debate session between Tasek Gelugor member of parliament Datuk Shabudin Yahaya and Lim where the undervalued house purchase was shown on TV3.
When the video was played in court today, Muhsin confirmed that it was the same video that he watched which led to him lodging a report on March 18, 2016 at the state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office here.
Cross-examined by Lim's counsel Gobind Singh Deo, Muhsin disagreed when asked if he was of the opinion that the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow was bought at an appropriate price when compared to the market value.
Gobind then questioned if he was sure the purchase of the house by Lim was made in 2008, to which he said yes, as that was based on the parliamentary debate video he saw on TV3.
Gobind then pointed out that it was mentioned in the same video that the house was bought in 2015 and not 2008 as claimed by Muhsin.
"In your report, you said the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow was bought below market price. Have you consulted a real estate expert on it?" Gobind asked, to which he replied with a "No".
Based on Muhsin's testimony, Gobind then said that the report lodged at MACC was baseless.
During re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Masry Mohd Daud, Muhsin told the court that the reason he lodged the report was because he wanted the MACC to investigate further on the claim that the house was bought below market value.
Masry: Can you explain to the court why you lodged the report.
Muhsin: I want the SPRM (MACC) to investigate the case since there was a claim that the house was bought below market price.
Apart from Muhsin, 10 other witnesses were called upon to testify at the corruption case.
The witnesses included chief assistant secretary of the State Legislative Assembly division from the State Secretary Office Mohd Farulizam Che Meh, chief assistant secretary of the council management and protocol division from the State Secretary Office Mohd Roshidi Azmi, Seberang Prai Tengah district senior chief assistant officer Rosmin Yaakob, assistant registration officer Nadia Kamis @ Khamis, information technology assistant officer from the State Finance Department Mohamad Farid Mokhtar and government pensioner Siti Asma' Mohd Salleh.
Others included company registration assistant Nor Ain Abdul Rahman, Public Bank Relau branch manager Yeoh Yit Pheng, Public Bank Penang Northern 1 regional manager Choong Sung Yean and Public Bank Lebuh Bishop branch head of documentation centre Ch'ng Joo Keat.
During cross-examination, Phang's counsel, Datuk V. Sithambaram, asked Choong to clarify on the loan taken by his client to buy the house in 2008.
She said that Phang had applied for a loan and RM2.12 million was approved.
She also testified that the Base Lending Rate (BLR) for the loan was at 6.7 per cent - 2.2 per cent with monthly repayment of RM11,872.
On June 30, 2016, Lim had claimed trial to using his public office or position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land to residential purpose during a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014.
Lim had also claimed trial to using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from Phang at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million on July 28, 2015.
Phang, meanwhile, claimed trial to abetting Lim in regards to his purchase of the house on Pinhorn Road from her for RM2.8 million which was below the market value or RM4.27 million.
The trial resumes tomorrow with 14 witnesses expected to be called to testify. — Reports by AUDREY DERMAWAN, SITI SOFIA MD NASIR, SHAMSUL MUNIR SAFINI and MOHAMED BASYIR