PKFZ: Chan Kong Choy charged with cheating

Published: Monday February 28, 2011 MYT 1:59:00 PM
Updated: Monday February 28, 2011 MYT 4:01:42 PM
PKFZ: Chan Kong Choy charged with cheating

PUTRAJAYA: Former Transport Minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy claimed trial Monday to three counts of cheating over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.

The court set bail at RM1mil and March 31 for mention of the case.

A large group of journalists and photographers had started gathering at the Palace of Justice here as early as noon.
Chan getting a hug from his wife Puan Sri Anne Chan outside the courtroom Monday

At about 2pm, Chan arrived at the court complex.

Earlier, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as well as deputy public prosecutors Dzulkefli Ahmad and Manoj Kurup, who are also involved in the PKFZ prosecution, also entered the court complex.

Chan is the second VVIP to be charged over the scandal-ridden project.

His predecessor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was charged on July 29, 2010 with cheating over the project.

The former MCA president was alleged to have deceived the Cabinet into giving consent over a land purchase in Pulau Indah for the Mega Distribution Hub project in Port Klang, according to the agreed terms between Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd and Port Klang Authority.

Kuala Dimensi was the turnkey contractor for the PKFZ project.

He was accused of hiding facts and committed cheating with the knowledge that it could cause wrongful losses to the Government, which he was bound by a legal contract to protect.

He was accused of committing the offence at the Prime Minister's office here between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.

If convicted, he could be jailed up to seven years or fined or both under Section 418 of the Penal Code.

He also faces an alternative charge for committing a similar offence at the same place and time, which carries a lesser penalty up to five years, or fined or both under Section 417 of the Penal Code.