GEORGE TOWN, March 26 — The high-profile joint corruption trial of Lim Guan Eng and Phang Li Koon kicked off today with both the Penang chief minister and the businesswoman pleading not guilty to amended charges submitted by the prosecution.

The first amendment saw Lim being charged with using his position as a "public officer” as chief minister to gain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the application of Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land to a public housing zone in southwest Penang.

The 58-year-old was accused of committing the offence while chairing the Penang State Planning Committee meeting at the operations room, Level 28, Komtar building here, on July 18, 2014.

The charge was made under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable with a jail term up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Lim was also slapped with a second amended charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code, in which he allegedly used his chief minister position to buy from Phang, a standalone house and the land on which it occupied at No 25 Pinhorn Road here for RM2.8 million, far below the market value of RM4.27 million at that time.

He was accused of committing the offence on October 21, 2015. The original charge had stated July 28, 2015.

If found guilty under Section 165, Lim could be jailed up to two years, fined, or both.

Phang claimed trial to the amended charge of abetting Lim in obtaining the house at below market price at the same place and date.

She was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 165 of the same law, punishable with a jail term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

High Court judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail presided over the trial while deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud prosecuted.

Lim’s legal team included Gobind Singh Deo who was his lead counsel, Ramkarpal Singh and RSN Rayer.

Phang’s lawyers were Datuk V. Sithambaram and Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.