Mahathir said that while Lim was named finance minister, he could only be officially appointed after his name was cleared of the charges. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial will continue on May 21, The Star reported.

Lim’s lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo said the case would be brought before the High Court for a case mention on the set date.

According to the report, the 2015 and 2016 charges against the newly announced Finance Minister was delayed due to the 14th General Election.

The 58-year-old was charged for purchasing a house below the market price at RM2.8 million from businesswoman Phang Li Koon in 2015 and later charged in 2016 for using his position in public office to approve an application to convert agricultural land for residential purposes.

The offence was allegedly committed during a state planning committee meeting in 2014 where he had allegedly approved the application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert the agricultural land.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that while Lim was named finance minister, he could only be officially appointed after his name was cleared of the charges.

On May 14, he told a press conference that Lim had not taken the oath of office but was merely named the finance minister.

He said that the appointment of ministers will have to be done according to the rule of law and that his official appointment would have to wait until he is fully cleared.