Court Proceedings Of Lim Guan Eng’s Corruption Case At The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court On 23.10.2023 Relating To The Cross-Examination Of Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli By Defence Counsels Gobind Singh Deo, Haijan Omar and Tiara Katrina Fuad.
Zarul Ahmad Asked Whether He Rectified His Earlier Evidence Against Gnanaraja To Deliberately Pin The Entire Charges Against Lim Guan Eng.
Prosecution Witness Zarul Ahmad admits to RECTIFYING his earlier evidence that the RM2 million to Gnanaraja was paid from Public Bank Cheque No. 51289 and Payment Voucher No.: CZPK00127. Now Zarul’s evidence is that RM2 million to Gnanaraja was from cash kept in his safe and the RM2 million allegedly paid to Lim Guan Eng was from Public Bank Cheque No. 51289.
Gobind begins cross of Zarul by referring to Zarul being remanded in early January 2018 by MACC through the Magistrate Court in Putrajaya. When Zarul was released after being remanded for 11 days, he immediately made a report on 19 January 2018 at MACC HQ. Zarul’s statement was recorded by MACC immediately based on that 19 January 2018 report.
Zarul had made a report that RM 19 million was paid to Datuk Seri Gnanaraja, who is a close friend of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to help Zarul by getting MACC to close investigations. The RM 19 million was paid by RM 15 million TT to Sykt Bumi Muhibbah and remaining RM 4 million in two tranches of RM 2 million cash each to Gnanaraja. The tranches of RM 2 million cash payments to Gnanaraja were made respectively in July and August 2017.
Zarul admitted that consequent to his report, Gnanaraja was charged with 3 counts of cheating Zarul under the Penal Code and numerous Anti Money Laundering Act(AMLA) charges in the Shah Alam Sessions Court. Zarul admitted that he was slated to be called as a star witness against Gnanaraja. His witness statement had already been prepared for this purpose, but the case against Gnanaraja had been withdrawn before Zarul could be called.
Zarul now claims RM 2 million in cash retrieved from his safe was to be given to Najib through Gnanaraja whilst the Public Bank cheques for RM 2 million cashed out was to Guan Eng. Zarul said he brought RM 4 million cash to Eastin Hotel whilst he had earlier said in his statement to MACC he only brought RM 2 million cash for Gnanaraja. Gnanaraja said Zarul is obviously lying. Zarul said he had RECTIFIED his earlier evidence against Gnanaraja, causing Gnanaraja to apply to court for Zarul’s statements to MACC against Gnanaraja to initiate impeachment proceedings against Zarul.
Court adjourned for submission by counsels for the application tomorrow.
