Malaysian former Finance Minister and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, center, arrives at courthouse in Butterworth, Malaysia, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020.
Lim pleaded not guilty to a second graft charge relating to a $1.5 billion undersea tunnel project.
(AP Photo/Gary Chuah)PENANG Malaysia's former finance minister pleaded not guilty Monday to a second corruption charge related to a $1.5 billion undersea tunnel project and slammed the case as a trumped-up charge by the new government.
On Monday, he was accused of abusing his power as Penang chief minister to obtain 3.3 million ringgit ($786,182) as inducement to help a local company secure the construction contract.
The project was approved during Lims tenure as Penang chief minister from 2008-2018, before he became Malaysias finance minister.