"I want to bring this matter up, as some media had reported last month (during his first appearance in the trial) on my testimony without the honorific title, and I want this to be rectified,” Gnanaraja said.
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): Businessman G Gnanaraja told the Sessions Court on Tuesday that the Pahang government has reinstated his Datuk Seri title.
Gnanaraja, 44, said this while on the witness stand during the Lim Guan Eng undersea tunnel project trial.
“My honorific title had initially been revoked when I was charged for money laundering. However, the Pahang state has since lifted the revocation of the title.”
“I want to bring this matter up, as some media had reported last month (during his first appearance in the trial) on my testimony without the honorific title, and I want this to be rectified,” Gnanaraja said.
When asked by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin for proof that his title has been reinstated, Gnanaraja showed a letter dated Apr 29, 2019, from Pahang State Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak. The letter was submitted as evidence.
Wan Shaharuddin then asked about Gnanaraja’s money laundering case. Gnanaraja said he had been acquitted, and presented a Shah Alam Sessions Court order dated Dec 23, 2020, where he was represented by the late Datuk Wong Rhen Yen and Goik Kenwayne, showing his acquittal. That court order was also submitted as evidence.
Gnanaraja had pleaded guilty to an alternative charge under the Companies Commission Act 2016 at the Shah Alam Sessions Court. He was fined RM230,000. This led to the acquittal from the original charges.
Earlier this month, Gnanaraja was injured during a robbery at his home in Petaling Jaya. The police have ruled out any links with any on-going court case.
When asked by the prosecution whether he was able to continue testifying, Gnanaraja said he felt threatened and traumatised from his ordeal.
“I am not ok; it is not that I do not want to cooperate (to continue with the testimony),” he added.
The witness said the incident made him feel unsafe, and he needs safety assurances to continue.
Gnanaraja’s description of attack expunged
Lim’s lawyer, Ram Karpal Singh, asked why Gnanaraja and the prosecution brought up the attack on his house again after discussing it earlier, especially since the prosecution is not asking for witness protection for him.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi told Gnanaraja to report the matter to the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“If the court orders, I am not certain the court can vouch for your safety as our staff and security personnel are limited (on court affairs). Bring this matter up with them,” she said.
Lim’s other lawyer, RSN Rayer, asked the court to expunge Gnanaraja's testimony about the robbery and Azura agreed it would not be recorded.
She then asked if Gnanaraja could continue testifying or if the prosecution wanted to call another witness, as the defence opposed delaying the trial.
Wan Shahruddin asked for a short break to ask Gnanaraja if he could continue reading his statement. After Azura called the case back, DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat told the court that Gnanaraja said he was not fit to continue.
Mahadi also said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer (IO), the last witness, would take a long time to testify.
“I ask for the case to be adjourned to Aug 27 and 28, for the IO to testify and for the court to temporarily release Gnanaraja from testifying,” Mahadi said.
Following this, Azura agreed to adjourn the matter to Aug 27 and 28. Senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah held a watching brief for Gnanaraja in Tuesday's proceedings.
Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng is on trial for allegedly using his position as the then-Penang chief minister to ask for a 10% share of profits from the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project, in return for aiding Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd director, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, to secure the project.
The 64-year-old former finance minister, who is also the Ayer Putih assemblyman, is additionally accused of accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks. A purported RM2 million paid on Aug 18, 2017, via businessman Gnanaraja, is said to be part of the RM3.3 million.
Currently the adviser to DAP, Lim also faces two counts of dishonest misappropriation of property in releasing two plots of state-owned land, cumulatively worth RM208.75 million, to Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd and Zenith Urban Development — two property companies linked to the controversial undersea tunnel project.