Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial is set to begin tomorrow at the High Court in Georgetown, Penang.

The trial concerns charges against Lim and businessperson Phang Li Koon in connection with the purchase the chief minister's bungalow purportedly at below market price, and the conversion of a plot of land.

The hearing is expected to take 23 days, lasting until the end of May.

The prosecution will call 40 witnesses during the hearing.

It was previously reported that Lim, who is Bagan MP and the Air Putih state assemblyperson, does not discount the possibility of the hearing affecting his ability to contest in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).

The election is widely expected to be held in April or early May.

Lim pleaded not guilty on June 30 last year to the two charges related to the land conversion and the purchase his bungalow.

He was charged with using his position as a civil servant to allegedly gain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the application for conversion of agricultural land to a public housing zone in southwest Penang to a company, Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd.

It is claimed he had committed the offence while chairing the Penang state planning committee meeting at the operations room, Level 28, Komtar building in George Town, on July 18, 2014.

The charge, which comes under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of a bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The second charge concerns using his position to obtain for himself a plot of land and a bungalow located at No 25, Jalan Pinhorn, Georgetown on July 28, 2015 from Phang for RM2.8 million, a price which he allegedly knew did not commensurate with the property’s then market value of RM4.27 million.

The charge, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Tight security

Phang had also pleaded not guilty to abetting Lim in obtaining the bungalow below cost.

The charge she faces, under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 165, provides for imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The Penang state court director Zaharah Hussain said in a statement today that there will be strict security at the court throughout the trial period, especially at the main building of the High Court.

“Several blockades will be put in place to limit the entry of the public and lawyers into the court building.

Lawyers who have cases before different judges will only be allowed to enter certain parts of the courthouse, she said.

Lim's trial is before Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail.