He said Rahman was resorting to “theatrics” by implying that he had deliberately attempted to delay his trial by mounting a challenge to the legality of a section in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC Act).
He said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department should not try to “sabotage” his right to a fair trial.
He said Rahman should instead focus on explaining why the prosecution in his case was amending the charges against him.
“I personally find the decision by the prosecution to amend charges disturbing, one and a half years after they first charged me,” he said.
“Even though the prosecution has every right to do so, it must do its work thoroughly and competently when it is charging a public figure who is also the Penang chief minister,” he said in a statement today.
Rahman had said on Jan 12 that the trial dates were scheduled only recently after a long delay because of Lim’s attempt to challenge the MACC Act, going through the High Court, Court of Appeals and all the way to the Federal Court.
“Whether this was a deliberate attempt to delay his trial, only Guan Eng knows,” Rahman had said.
Lim had remarked on Jan 11 that his graft trial from April to May might affect his candidacy in GE14, which is due by August but is widely expected to be held earlier.
On Jan 10, the Penang High Court fixed 23 days, from March 26 to 30, April 9 to 12, April 23 to 27, May 7 to 10 and May 21 to 25, to hear the case involving Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.
The next day, deputy public prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud told the court during case management that the prosecution would tender amended charges against both Lim and Phang.
He said since both the accused were not in court that day, the amended charges would be read to them on the first day of the trial.
On June 30, 2016, Lim had claimed trial to using his public office or position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land for residential purpose during a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014.
Lim had also claimed trial to using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from Phang at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million, on July 28, 2015.
Phang, who is also Magnificent Emblem president, claimed trial to abetting Lim in his purchase of the house in Pinhorn Road from her for RM2.8 million, which was below the market value or RM4.27 million.