GEORGE TOWN: Betty Chew Gek Cheng, wife of former Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, was arrested by the state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today.
This was confirmed by Chew's lawyer, Lee Khai, when contacted by the New Straits Times.
Chew, accompanied by Lee and Guan Eng's sister, Hui Ying, had earlier this morning arrived at the state MACC headquarters about 10.45am.
"MACC arrested Betty Chew. I am accompanying her for the statement taking.
"Hui Ying is not involved. She posted MACC bail of RM50,000 for Chew," he said.
Lee did not respond to NST's query on what Chew was being investigated for.
On Thursday, graftbusters nabbed Lim shortly after his arrival at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist in an investigation into the RM6.3 million Penang Undersea Tunnel project.
This morning, the DAP secretary-general claimed trial to soliciting a bribe from the company awarded the contract to undertake the controversial Undersea Tunnel project.
He was accused of asking for 10 per cent of profits from Datuk Zarul Zulkifli to help his company, Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, secure the project to build the Undersea Tunnel.
The former Finance Minister, who is accused of committing the offence in March 2011, claimed trial to the charges under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
He faces a maximum 20 years' jail and a fine of up to five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Lim is expected to be charged at the Penang Sessions Court this Monday and on Tuesday under Section 23 of the MACC Act for other cases.
The controversial Penang Undersea Tunnel project was again probed by the anti-graft authority recently following fresh leads.
Lim served as Penang Chief Minister from 2008 to 2018.
Also detained on Thursday in Penang was businesswoman Phang Li Koon.
Phang, along with Lim, were granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal by the High Court back in September 2018, over their corruption charges in 2016.
On June 30, 2016, Lim claimed trial to using his position as a public officer, namely, the then chief minister of Penang, to gain gratification for himself and his wife, Chew.
He was accused of doing so by approving the application for conversion of agriculture land to a public housing zone in the southwest district to a company, Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd.
He was charged with committing the offence while chairing the State Planning Committee meeting at the operations room, Level 28, Komtar building here, on July 18, 2014.
The charge under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
In the second charge, Lim also claimed trial to using his position to obtain for himself a plot of land and a house, located at No 25, Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, from Phang for RM2.8 million, a price which he allegedly knew did not commensurate with the property's then market value of RM4.27 million.
The offence was allegedly committed at No 25 Jalan Pinhorn, George Town here on Oct 21, 2015.
The charge was under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides an imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both.
Phang was charged with abetting Lim in obtaining the bungalow at an undervalued cost at the same place and date.
She was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 165 of the same law, which provides an imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to sources, all three — Lim, Chew and Phang — are expected to be charged on Tuesday under the MACC Act.