The High Court in Penang has fixed July 26 for case management on the corruption trial of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.

The move is to allow the appeal by Lim and Phang to challenge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

This is to be heard on April 27, in the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.

"We plan to challenge the MACC Act up to the Federal Court," Lim's legal counsel RSN Rayer said after the date was fixed before High Court judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail.

Phang was represented by Hisham Teh, while DPP Masry Daud appeared for the prosecution.

Last month, Justice Hadhariah allowed the application by Lim's counsel Gobind Singh Deo to stay the corruption trial pending the outcome of their appeal in the Court of Appeal.

This followed the High Court's March 7 rejection of the petitions by Lim and Phang to have Section 62 of the MACC Act declared "unconstitutional and void'.

Section 62 states that once the prosecution submits documents pursuant to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code, the accused shall, before the trial begins, submit (a) a statement of defence and (b) a copy of any document that can be presented as part of the evidence for the defence.

Two corruption charges

On June 30 last year, Lim claimed trial to two counts of corruption related to land conversion (from agriculture to housing), and the purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow at below market value.

Lim was charged under Section 23 of the MACC Act for allegedly using his position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the land conversion in Balik Pulau for Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd.

Lim is accused of doing so when chairing a meeting of the Penang State Planning Committee on July 18, 2014.

If convicted, Lim faces a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of graft involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The second charge against Lim involves him allegedly purchasing the bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn on July 28, 2015, from Phang, who owns 30 percent of Magnificent Emblem.