Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli told the court that he only mentioned handing out “chocolates”, a code word for money, to G Gnanaraja.

He also said he did not tell Gnanaraja to pass the “chocolates” to Lim, referred to as “CM”, in the messages, or another person known as “big boss”.

Zarul added that he told Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers during investigations that he gave Gnanaraja a total of RM4 million, placed in four separate bags (each filled with RM1 million), in 2017.

He previously told the court that he cashed a RM2 million company cheque for Lim, and took another RM2 million from his safe to be given to former prime minister Najib Razak.

However, Lim’s lawyer Haijan Omar disputed Zarul’s testimony on the RM4 million, saying the businessman had created the narrative out of “convenience”. Zarul denied the lawyer’s suggestion.

“In Gnanaraja’s case, you told MACC that you borrowed about RM2.3 million from one Datuk Ng (to pay Gnanaraja) but in our case today, you mentioned that the money came from a land sale. Are you taking two opposing positions?” Haijan asked.

“I don’t agree,” Zarul added.

The hearing continues before judge Azura Alwi on Tuesday.

Lim is accused of using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Zarul for a 10% share of the profits from a roads-and-tunnel project in Penang.

The former finance minister is also accused of seeking RM3.3 million in kickbacks to appoint Zarul’s company to undertake the project.

Lim also faces two charges of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land.