This was decided today after defence lawyers said there were too many documents served on them by the prosecution, with counsel RSN Rayer telling the Sessions Court here that another set of papers have yet to be served.
Deputy public prosecutor Selvaranjini Selvaraja also asked for additional time to hand over the documents to the defence.
Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid allowed their requests and set Dec 18 for mention.
On Aug 11, Lim, Chew and Phang were charged with offences related to illegal proceeds received in Chew’s bank account as money received to ensure a project for the dormitories was awarded to a certain company.
They were charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001 and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
Lim was charged with power abuse under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for obtaining the sum as the then chief minister and chairman of the tender board of the Penang Development Corporation.
He was accused of giving gratification worth RM372,009 to Chew through Excel Property Management and Consultancy Sdn Bhd by ensuring that Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd was offered the project in Juru and Batu Kawan.
The offence was allegedly committed between Aug 19, 2013 and March 3, 2016. Lim faces a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of the said gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Phang, who is a director of Excel Property Management and Consultancy, was charged with abetting Lim under Section 28 (1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009.
Chew was charged with three counts of laundering the RM372,009 in three separate tranches from a Public Bank account registered at the Taman Melaka Raya branch in Melaka between Oct 7, 2013 and March 3, 2016.
She was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the AMLA Act 2001, and faces a fine of up to RM5 million or maximum five years’ jail, or both, upon conviction.
Rayer, Gobind Singh Deo and V Vemal Arasan appeared for Lim. Ramkarpal Singh, Sangeet Kaur Deo and Lee Khai represented Chew, and V Sithambaram and Rueban Kumar appeared for Phang.
The prosecution is led by Ahmad Akram Gharib, who is supported by Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar, Roslan Mat Nor and Francine Cheryl Rajendram.
Lim, Chew and Phang were excused from appearing in court today.