Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng pleaded not guilty at the Penang High Court to corruption charges involving the purchases of a bungalow and a plot of land in the state.

His plea was recorded before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azmi Ariffin.

Lim was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for 'Offence of using office or position for gratification'. If convicted, he could be jailed a maximum 20 years and fined an amount of no less than five times the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Azmi granted Lim bail of RM1 million in one surety on the two corruption charges.

He also allowed the DAP secretary-general to hold on to his passport, under the condition that if Lim wanted to travel overseas, he needed to inform the court and the Attorney-General two days before departure.

The court then set Sept 22 for case management.

Meanwhile, businesswoman Phang Li Khoon also claimed trial to the charge of abetting Lim in the purchases of a plot of land and the bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn.

She was granted by the court a bail of RM200,000 in one surety without additional conditions.

READ: Guan Eng's corruption case transferred to High Court