News

Published: Thursday March 8, 2012 MYT 3:39:00 PM
Updated: Thursday March 8, 2012 MYT 4:08:50 PM

Dr Ling hopes for 'quick justice' in PKFZ decision

By LIM WEY WEN


PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik says he looks forward to "quick justice" to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) trial.

The High Court is expected to rule on Friday if the former transport minister should enter his defence over charges of cheating the Government in relation to the PKFZ project.

"As I said, right from the beginning of the case, I want the case to be fast, and I want quick justice from the courts.

"So, I hope the judge will be very kind to give the judgement tomorrow,” he told a press conference after announcing the Malaysia Festival of Mind VIII Mind competitions at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman here.

Dr Ling, 69, is accused of not disclosing to the Cabinet an additional interest rate of 7.5 percent per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 per sq ft, inclusive of the coupon/interest rate.

He also faces two alternative (amended) charges, of cheating and intentionally not disclosing to the Cabinet that the 7.5 percent per annum was an additional interest rate on the land price.

Dr Ling, represented by counsel Wong Khian Keong, is charged with committing the offences at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister's Office, Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.

The first charge, under Section 418 of the Penal Code, carries a penalty of up to seven years jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction while the two alternative (amended) charges, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, carry a penalty of up to five years jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The prosecution, led by DPP Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, had adduced the testimony of 25 witnesses, among them Cabinet ministers and senior officers of the JPPH.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story
  • Bookmark and Share