Guan Eng Fails to Quash Corruption Charges; Trial to Proceed

Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew, and businessman Phang Li Koon will proceed to trial on charges of corruption and money laundering. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed their appeal to nullify the charges, affirming the High Court's decision.

Presiding judge Datuk Azman Abdullah, along with Datuk Noorin Badaruddin and Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid, found no error in the High Court's ruling. Judge Noorin, reading the concise judgment, stated that the principles of 'autrefois acquit' (previously acquitted) and estoppel do not apply in this instance. The charges faced by the appellants pertain to different issues than those for which they were previously discharged and acquitted.

The corruption and money laundering case is scheduled for mention at the Penang High Court on July 3. Previously, on May 3, 2024, the Penang High Court had rejected the trio's application to dismiss the charges. The court determined that the autrefois acquit doctrine, or the rule against double jeopardy argued by the defense, was not met under the specified conditions. The application to quash the charges was filed on May 26, 2023, based on the prosecution's use of evidence from a prior case involving Lim's bungalow purchase, despite his 2018 acquittal.