KUALA LUMPUR: Former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor has failed in his attempt to strike out three criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges involving RM21.08mi related to the Royal Malaysian Navy’s littoral combat ship (LCS) project.

High Court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid dismissed Ahmad Ramli’s application on Friday (July 26), Bernama reports.

Justice Azhar said he found that the issue of the applicant’s mental fitness to stand trial and defend himself needs to be assessed by a trial judge.

"Therefore, the applicant’s request to dismiss all three charges is denied, and the case is returned to the Sessions Court for a trial judge to evaluate the applicant’s mental fitness," he said.

The former Navy chief filed a motion in April through his lawyer to have the charges dismissed, seeking to be released from them on the grounds that it would be unfair for him to stand trial given his health.

His daughter Rinnie Nor Ahmad Ramli, 50, stated in her supporting affidavit that after a medical examination, her father was diagnosed with progressive neurodegenerative disorder, a condition consistent with moderate mixed dementia.

Ahmad Ramli, then 78, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Aug 16, 2022.

According to the charge sheets, he was alleged to have approved RM13,541,140 to Setaria Holdings Limited's Singapore bank account without the shipyard board's approval between July 26, 2010 and March 25, 2011.

In the second charge, he was alleged to have approved RM1,360,716 as payment to JSD Corporation Pte Ltd Singapore bank account between April 19, 2011 and May 4, 2011.

In the third charge, Ahmad Ramli was alleged to have approved another payment of RM6,182,295 to Sousmarin Armada Ltd Singapore bank account between Oct 28, 2010 and Nov 22, 2010.

For all three offences, Ahmad Ramli was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust by a public servant.

The offence is punishable with a jail term of between two to 20 years, with whipping and also a fine, upon conviction. 

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/26/lcs-project-former-shipyard-md-fails-to-strike-out-rm21mil-cbt-charges