KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- The trial of former transport minister
Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy who is facing a cheating charge in the Port Klang Free
Zone (PKFZ) scandal was postponed today to allow the prosecution to examine a
letter of representation from the defence.
Chan was charged with cheating former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in relation to the Port Klang transport hub project.
High Court judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim fixed May 21 for the trial to
resume and also for the hearing on a motion for him to withdraw from the trial.
In today''s proceedings DPP Datuk Nordin Hassan informed the court that the
Attorney-General''s Chamber needed time to make an informed and fair decision on
Chan''s letter of representation.
"We''re examining the many matters which have been raised in the letter and
need to review the related facts and documents to verify the same, including the
dates of the charges," he said.
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COURT-CHAN 2 KUALA LUMPUR
Nordin also informed the court that all relevant documents had been handed
over to the defence as stipulated under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure
Code.
On March 29, the defence filed a motion supported by Chan''s affidavit
stating that the trial should be presided by one of the three Kuala Lumpur
criminal High Court judges.
Chan claimed that Zamani, who is from the Penang High Court, was not
adhering to procedures and was portraying an image to the public of having been
specially selected for the trial.
He further claimed there was no reason for Zamani to be specially selected
for the trial and there was the additional logistics issue of the judge having
to travel to and fro Penang.
Chan faces three counts of cheating former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi by deceiving him into approving Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd (KDSB) as the
turnkey developer for the RM1.9 billion transport hub in Pulau Indah Free Zone
and renovation works at the PKFZ site, between 2004 and 2006.
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COURT-CHAN 3 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
Chan, 56, allegedly concealed the fact that the project would be funded by a
KDSB bond through Transshipment Megahub Berhad, supported by himself as
transport minister.
He was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code which is punishable by
five years imprisonment or fine or both for each count, upon conviction.
Chan, who was represented by Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, was present in court.
-- BERNAMA
NIM SAN KHY PA