Malaysian Finance Minister acquitted of corruption

Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng (Photo: VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The High Court of George Town city of Malaysia’s Penang state has acquitted Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and dropped the charges against him and businesswoman Phang Li Koon.

The accused were released immediately and will not be deposed again for the case.

Lim was accused of corruption as he used his former position as chief minister of Penang to approve the application for conversion of agricultural land to a public housing zone and purchased a bungalow below market value from Phang Li Koon.

He was summoned to court often as chief minister of Penang, especially prior to Malaysia’s general election in May. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party, part of the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan.

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) said it was shocked that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) withdrew the case against the minister, stressing that the decision to retract the case was by the AGC and not the MACC.-VNA