Former transport minister Chan Kong Choy’s cheating trial in connection with the Port Klang Free Zone Project (PKFZ) has been set for April 2 next year at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is scheduled to be called as the crown witness in the trial.  

Judge Zamani Abdul Rahim set the date after Chan pleaded not guilty to three amended cheating charges after they were read out to him today.

Deputy public prosecutor Nordin Hassan informed the court that the words “kerajaan Malaysia” (Government of Malaysia) had been amended to “sokongan kamu (Chan) sebagai menteri pengangkutan” (your (Chan’s) support as Transport Minister) in all three charges.  

Following the amendments, Chan is charged with deceiving former prime minister Abdullah into approving Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) as the turnkey developer for the PKFZ project between 2004 and 2006, which was worth RM1.9 billion.

Chan, 55, is accused of having hidden information that the development costs would be borne by the issuing of a bond by KDSB through Transshipment Megahub Berhad with his support as the transport minister.

Chan is alleged to have committed the offences at the fourth floor of Bangunan Perdana at the Prime Minister’s office complex in Putrajaya.

He has been charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code and is liable to be jailed up to five years or fined or both, if convicted.

Zamani set aside April till August for the trial and reminded both the prosecution and defence to observe the highest standard of professionalism to ensure the smooth running of the trial.

“This is a high profile and public interest case that I intended to start hearing as early as January but the court is allowing the trial to start in April after taking into consideration the defence team’s request for more time to secure all relevant documents from the prosecution,” he said.

Zamani, who is a Penang High Court judge, has been tasked with handling this trial.

‘Defence needs more documents’

Earlier during today’s proceedings, counsel Tan Hock Chuan, who is representing Chan, said although the defence had received documents from the prosecution, they needed more documents which were related to cabinet papers on the issuing of the bond.

“We need them as soon as possible and hope the prosecution will give its full cooperation on the matter. We have no intention whatsoever to delay  he trial,” he said.

Nordin told the court that the prosecution had supplied the papers concerned but was willing to furnish other documents if the defence stated specifically what they wanted.

Nordin later told reporters that besides Abdullah, the prosecution would be calling 30 other witnesses during the course of the trial.

- Bernama