Businessman accused of cheating company director of RM19 million in Penang tunnel project

DAP in Crisis: The Penang Undersea Tunnel Corruption Scandal

(FMT) – A businessman accused of graft claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to three charges of cheating a company director in the Penang undersea tunnel project.

G Gnanaraja was accused of cheating Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli of RM19 million between July and August 2017 at various locations in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Gnanaraja was said to have deceived Zarul into believing that he could help the latter close money laundering investigations against him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

If convicted under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Gnanaraja faces a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine and whipping.

Sessions Court judge Rozina Salleh set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and ordered him to surrender his passport.

The court also set May 6 for mention.

Gnanaraja was represented by lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent while deputy public prosecutor Umar Saifuddin Jaafar appeared for the prosecution.

Gnanaraja was arrested by MACC last year following allegations that he received RM19 million from the main project contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction, to help stop investigations into the company.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers gave MACC the green light to prosecute the 38-year-old yesterday.