Guan Eng's wife, Bungalow-gate's Phang detained by MACC - sources
UPDATED 2.42PM | Added the arrests of Betty Chew and Phang Li Koon.
The MACC has detained Betty Chew, the wife of former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.
According to an MACC source, businesswoman Phang Li Koon, who was previously charged and acquitted over Lim's bungalow scandal, has also been arrested.
It is understood that Phang was detained last night, while Chew was arrested after she turned up at the Penang MACC headquarters today.
Oriental Daily reported that Chew has since been released on RM50,000 bail.
Earlier, the MACC source said she was being questioned in relation to Lim's court case next Tuesday.
When contacted, Chew's lawyer Lee Khai confirmed her arrest and said she was being questioned over Excel Property Management and Consultancy Sdn Bhd.
Previously, in 2017, allegations were made that Chew was a director of Excel Property Management and Consultancy, together with Phang and Phang's siblings.
Speculation is rife that the former finance minister's bungalow scandal may be brought to court again.
Lim was charged in 2016 for allegedly receiving gratification by purchasing a house from Phang at below market value in 2015 when he was the Penang chief minister.
He was also charged with abusing his power as Penang chief minister by re-zoning a plot of land that was eventually acquired by Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd, a company linked to Phang, who was charged with abetment.
Both were granted an acquittal by the High Court in 2018, a move which the MACC found "shocking".
An application to review the acquittal at the Court of Appeal was supposed to be heard in February but was disrupted by the political crisis following the Sheraton Move.
Lim is expected to be charged in the Sessions Court in Penang on Aug 10 and 11. The case on Monday is believed to be related to the undersea tunnel project in the state.
This morning, Lim claimed trial to a charge of soliciting a bribe in connection with the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
The former Penang chief minister, who spent the night at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya following his arrest, is accused of soliciting the bribe to facilitate the awarding of a contract with regard to the project.
According to the charge, he had asked for 10 percent in future profit from the project as a fee to help a company, helmed by Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, to be appointed to carry out the construction of main roads and tunnels in the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Zarul is senior executive director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, which was awarded the project.
Related reports:
Understanding the Penang undersea tunnel project
KJ: A week after heaping praises, Harapan now derides legal process
Guan Eng: MACC never asked where I kept the alleged kickback
Guan Eng claims trial to soliciting bribe for tunnel project charge
Son slams 'dirty politics' against Guan Eng, vows to fight back
Additional reporting by Kow Gah Chie
