Court returns Guan Eng’s passport as PM appoints him trade official.
DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng has regained permanent possession of his international passport, which he had surrendered to the court as part of his bail conditions in the Penang undersea tunnel corruption case.
Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi approved Lim’s application, citing valid reasons and developments since the passport was first handed over.
In his affidavit, the 63-year-old former Penang chief minister said he required the passport to perform his duties as honorary chairman of the Asian Coalition for Asian Political and Institutional Capacity Development (ACAPICD), a role appointed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He stated that permanent release of the passport would enable him to meet his work commitments without repeatedly seeking court permission for travel, thereby saving time and resources for all parties, including the judiciary.
Lim stressed that his RM1 million bail with two sureties remains intact and that he is not a flight risk, having attended all court proceedings.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin represented the prosecution, while Lim was represented by RSN Rayer and Ramkarpal Singh.
Judge Azura ordered Lim to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Penang once a month, with his existing bail conditions unchanged.
Lim is charged with using his position to solicit bribes from Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, director of Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, in connection with the RM6.3 billion project to construct three main roads and an undersea tunnel linking Penang to the mainland.
The trial is ongoing.