MACC investigating officer Eng Heng Jun told Lim’s undersea tunnel trial that he had taken statements from witness and businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli in his investigation into a cheating case.

Eng said Zarul claimed that money had been paid to Lim for the project.

“I told Datuk (Zarul) to give his statement later to another (investigating officer) who would handle this case.

“I also told this to my supervisors, and they said a special investigation (against Lim) would commence,” he told the court.

The witness also said that he doubted neither Zarul’s credibility nor the businessman’s statement to MACC in the cheating case.

Eng said his investigations — which were corroborated by evidence — showed that Zarul had passed RM19 million to another businessman, G Gnanaraja, in 2017.

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 22.