KUALA LUMPUR: Former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor has been given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on three counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM21.08mil related to the Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS) project.
Sessions judge Suzana Hussin made the order on Wednesday (March 12) after allowing an application by lawyer Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden for Ahmad Ramli, 81, to be released without bail following a report on his client’s mental condition.
The lawyer told the court that a psychiatrist from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) found Ahmad Ramli, who is also a former Navy commander, unfit to stand trial owing to his mental condition.
"Taking into account the submissions of the parties and the medical report on the mental condition of the accused by HKL, the assessment is that the accused is unfit to stand trial.
"Therefore, the accused is discharged without being acquitted of all charges," said Suzana during mention of the case today.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat informed the court that Ahmad Ramli’s representation, submitted on Jan 10, had been rejected and the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial.
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Yusof then said that on Dec 5, the court had been informed about the examination and medical report submitted by HKL which found his client unfit to stand trial because he was not able to defend himself.
Mahadi said the prosecution took note of that and left it to the discretion of the court.
As the BNS managing director entrusted with the company’s funds, Ahmad Ramli was charged on Aug 16, 2022, with committing CBT by approving a payment amounting to RM13,541,140 to the account of Syarikat Setaria Holding Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, 6 Battery RD, Singapore 049909, without the approval of the BNS board of directors.
The offence was allegedly committed at BNS, 17th floor, Menara Boustead, 69 Jalan Raja Chulan, between July 26, 2010, and March 25, 2011.
On the second charge, he was alleged to have approved payments amounting to RM1,360,716 to the account of JSD Corporation, the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, 65 Chulia Street, OCBC Centre, Singapore, without the approval of the BNS board of directors at the same place between April 19, 2011, and May 4, 2011.
He was also charged with committing a similar offence by approving a payment amounting to RM6,182,295 to the account of Syarikat Sousmarin Armada Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, 6 Battery Road, Singapore at the same place between Oct 28, 2010, and Nov 22, 2010.
The three charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years with caning and a fine if found guilty. – Bernama
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