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PETALING JAYA: Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng criticized Chief Deputy Prosecutor (DPP) Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who had said there would be a 99% chance of conviction for two new charges brought against the Bagan MP.
Calling Shaharuddin’s comments belligerent and inappropriate, he said the DPP had already prejudiced him, threatening his right to a fair trial.
“Many have commented that the DPP’s public statements are potentially dangerous, can destroy a person’s reputation and undermine my right to a fair trial,” Lim said in a statement.
Previously, the lead DPP said Lim’s new case was “the mother of all cases” compared to the three charges he previously faced.
When asked about the prosecution’s chances in the case, Wan Shaharuddin said that the policy of the Malaysian Prosecutor General and Anti-Corruption Commission was that “we only prosecute cases where we have a 99% chance of obtaining a condemnation “, while (the remaining) 1% was left to an” act of God “.
Lim was charged with misappropriation of government property worth RM 208 million in Penang state land involving two companies.
In response, the Bagan deputy and the former Penang chief minister argued that the charges were “unfounded and illogical” as he had made no profit.
“The land valued at RM208 million was a payment in the form of a land exchange in accordance with the agreement between the state government and the contractor.
Furthermore, the land was transferred after the final decision of the state executive council ”.
Previously, Lim said the charges were related to the underwater highway and tunnel project, which was awarded through an open tender in 2013 and that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had questioned him five times.
He insisted that he did not participate in the bidding process.
Lim now faces a total of five charges for crimes allegedly committed during his tenure as Penang’s chief minister.
