Selangor police today said there is no known association between the armed robbery at businessman G Gnanaraja’s home and former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s corruption proceedings.
In a Buletin TV3 report, Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar said several valuables were stolen during the armed robbery at Bukit Gasing here on Aug 6, with police recording statements from 16 individuals to assist in their probe.
Gnanaraja, a key prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, said on Aug 7 that he would apply for protection under the witness protection programme after he was attacked by 10 men during the incident.
His lawyer, RT Rajasekaran, told a press conference he was concerned that the assault might be linked to his client’s role as a key prosecution witness in the trial.
However, Shazeli said based on statements the police have recorded, there was no evidence linking the robbery to the trial.
He also said the assailants’ threats to Gnanaraja were aimed at ensuring his compliance during the robbery.
“The threats were more along the lines of ‘don’t make noise, stay quiet’.
“Suspects often say that to ensure their victims cooperate (during robberies),” he said at a press conference.
Gnanaraja reportedly suffered injuries to his face and hand after being attacked by the robbers. Two security guards were tied up before the robbers entered the house.
In a New Straits Times report, Gnanaraja said one of the robbers swung a parang towards his mouth and hand, warning him not to speak out or “play the hero”.
Law firm Haijan Omar & Co, acting on behalf of Lim, had criticised media reports and prosecutorial remarks that allegedly linked the DAP adviser to the assault.
Condemning what they described as “premature and misleading” speculation surrounding the incident, the law firm had also urged the media to refrain from reporting unverified claims about the assault as they risked undermining the judicial process and Lim’s presumption of innocence.
Lim is charged with using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask a businessman for a 10% cut of the profits from a proposed undersea tunnel project and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks.
He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land.
Separately, Shazeli said police have recorded statements from five more people in connection with the eHati motivational programme investigation, bringing the total to 95 so far.
He said the five comprise employees of the motivational programme, the convention centre’s staff and programme participants.
On July 16, police confirmed that nudity occurred during a motivational programme held last year at a convention centre in Shah Alam.
