Ex-navy chief claims trial to three counts of CBT over LCS scandal
KUALA LUMPUR - Former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor was charged at the Sessions Court, here, today with three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving over RM21 million in relation to the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) project.
The 78-year old pleaded not guilty to all the charges before judge Suzana Hussin.
According to the charge sheets, Ramli was alleged to have approved payments totaling RM13,541,140.00, RM1,360,716.00 and RM6,182,295.00 respectively to three Singapore-based companies namely Setaria Holding Limited, JSD Corporation Pte. Ltd and Sousmarin Armada Ltd, without the BNS board approval.
He allegedly committed the offences at BNS, 17th floor, Menara Boustead, 69 Jalan Raja Chulan, here, between July 26, 2010 and May 4, 2011.
The charges framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years, whipping and a fine, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed for a RM500,000 bail and a paid surety of RM200,000 to be imposed on the accused for all charges.
Ramli's lawyer Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abidin did not object to the bail amount.
The court then allowed RM500,000 bail and fixed Nov 24 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Shahrudin Wan Ladin also prosecuted.
Earlier, Ramli who was the former navy chief arrived at the Courts Complex, here, at about 7.50am accompanied his family members.
On Aug 4, the Public Accounts Committee disclosed that not a single ship had been completed, even though the project contract, worth RM6.083 billion, stipulated that five of the six ships should be completed and delivered by August 2022.
