Eng Heng Jun told the sessions court here today businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli had referred to Lim on Dec 9, 2019 during an investigation into fellow businessman G Gnanaraja.

He said investigation papers were opened after a complaint was lodged against Lim for alleged abuse of power in January 2020.

Lim was charged in court in August that year.

Under cross-examination, Eng rejected defence lawyer Tiara Katrina Fuad’s assertion that the evidence implicating Lim only surfaced because MACC had applied “relentless pressure” on Zarul.

Eng also denied advising Zarul to lodge a complaint against Lim in 2018.

He also said he became aware that Lim was under investigation after hearing about it from his superiors.

Lim is charged with 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.

The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues on July 10 and 11.