Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli said he spoke to businessman G Gnanaraja about the raids in August that year, and claimed a politician was behind them.

“They looked at documents and took everything,” said Zarul when cross-examined by Lim’s lawyer, Haijan Omar.

He also said he was fearful as he kept a large amount of cash, purportedly for Lim, in his office.

“You told Gnanaraja that was not true and you were willing to take an oath in a mosque over the matter. I suggest to you that the stash fund (allegation) was not true,” said Haijan.

Zarul disagreed.

Lim is standing trial on charges of using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Zarul for a 10% cut of the profits from the undersea tunnel project and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks from the businessman.

He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land to two companies.

The hearing continues before trial judge Azura Alwi on Friday.