The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has set Nov 4, for mention of a cheating case in which former transport minister Chan Kong Choy is linked to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

The case will be tried at the Kuala Lumpur High Court after the Putrajaya Sessions Court had on, Sept 15, allowed the public prosecutor’s application under Section 418A (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The Sessions Court also struck out Chan’s application to have his trial stayed, pending disposal of the cheating trial of former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik after he (Chan) withdrew the application, with liberty to file the application afresh.

Initially, the Putrajaya Sessions Court had set Sept 20 until 30, for trial.

On Feb 28, this year, Chan, 55, pleaded not guilty to three counts of cheating former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by deceiving him into approving Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd as the turnkey developer to carry out development of the transshipment hub project in Pulau Indah Free Zone and renovation works at the PKFZ site between 2004 and 2006, amounting to RM1.9

billion.

Chan is accused of committing the offence on the fourth floor of the main block at Abdullah’s office in Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya.

He faces a jail term of five years or a fine, or both on each of the three charges under Section 417 of the Penal Code, if convicted.

- Bernama