Undersea tunnel trial: Private valuer says land worth RM300m
A director of a private property valuer testified in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that two plots of land linked to the RM6.3 billion Penang Undersea Tunnel project are worth RM300 million.
This contrasted with the testimonies of two government officers from the state Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) in May that the land was only worth RM80 million.
During the related corruption trial against former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng this morning, Tan Gaik Eng...
A director of a private property valuer testified in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that two plots of land linked to the RM6.3 billion Penang Undersea Tunnel project are worth RM300 million.
This contrasted with the testimonies of two government officers from the state Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) in May that the land was only worth RM80 million.
During the related corruption trial against former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng this morning, Tan Gaik Eng - the director of GE Tan Valuers Sdn Bhd - testified before judge Azura Alwi that Lot 702 is valued at RM135 million while Lot 713 is at RM165 million.
The 30th prosecution witness further said the valuation report on Lot 702 at Section 1, Bandar Tanjong Pinang, Daerah Timur Laut, Penang, was made on Dec 30, 2013, while for Lot 713, located at Section 1, Bandar Tanjung Pinang, Daerah Timor Laut, Penang, it was made on Jan 5, 2016.
The witness added that Ewein Berhad hired his firm for the valuations of both properties.
Founded by the late Ewe Swee Keng, Ewein was part of the joint venture with Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group Sdn Bhd over the project.
On Dec 16 last year, the Sessions Court allowed the prosecution’s bid to tender in court the statement that Ewe gave to MACC during the investigation.
The businessperson, who was supposed to have been called as the 15th prosecution witness, died after he reportedly fell from a luxury condominium in Jalan Kelawei, Penang, on Oct 5 last year.
Later during cross-examination by defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo, Tan said he was unaware of the RM80 million valuation of the land done by two state JPPH officers, Zakariya Nayan and Nurul Asshima Aminullah.
Zakariya and Nurul Asshima were the 25th and 26th prosecution witnesses who testified on the value of the two plots of land during trial on May 27.
Hearing before Azura will resume on Sept 29.
Lim's charges
Former finance minister Lim is on trial over four charges.
One charge, framed under Section 16(A)(a) and Section 23 of the MACC Act, alleged that he used his position as Penang chief minister for the gratification of RM3.3 million as inducement for helping a company belonging to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd senior executive Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli to secure the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
The offence was allegedly perpetrated at the Penang Chief Minister's Office between January 2011 and August 2017.
Under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act, the offence is punishable with imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The second charge, also under Section 16(A)(a), stated that Lim, in his capacity as the Penang chief minister, solicited from Zarul bribes amounting to 10 percent of the profits to be earned by the company as gratification for helping the company secure the project.
The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel in Kuala Lumpur between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.
The said law provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
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