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THE former Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) Managing Director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor, has been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) regarding three charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM21.08 million related to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin made the ruling after considering brief submissions from both parties, a medical report from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), and prior legal precedents.
Ahmad Ramli, 81, who previously served as the Chief of the RMN, was granted the DNAA due to medical reasons, as per the psychiatric evaluation provided by HKL, which deemed him unfit to stand trial.
“Taking into account the arguments from both sides and the medical report concerning the mental condition of the accused, it is clear that the accused is unfit to stand trial. Therefore, the accused is discharged not amounting to an acquittal from all charges,” Judge Suzana said during today’s case mention.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat had informed the court that the prosecution had rejected a representation from Ahmad Ramli on January 10, 2025, and was prepared to proceed with the trial.
However, Ahmad Ramli’s lawyer, Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, informed the court that a psychiatric report from HKL had revealed that his client was not mentally capable of defending himself in the case.
Mahadi acknowledged the medical findings and deferred to the discretion of the court.
The charges stemmed from Ahmad Ramli’s actions during his tenure as the Managing Director of BNS, where he was accused of approving unauthorised payments from company funds.
The first charge involved an approval of RM13,541,140 paid to Setaria Holding Limited’s account at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore between July 26, 2010, and March 25, 2011, without the approval of the BNS Board of Directors.
The second charge was for approving a payment of RM1,360,716 to JSD Corporation’s account at The Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Singapore, between April 19 and May 4, 2011. The third charge concerned the approval of RM6,182,295 to Sousmarin Armada Ltd, also in Singapore, between October 28 and November 22, 2010.
All three charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of a minimum of two years in prison and up to 20 years, along with whipping and a possible fine upon conviction. However, whipping is not applicable to individuals over 50 years of age or women.
Despite the medical report and the court’s ruling, the charges against Ahmad Ramli will not be entirely dismissed but remain unresolved due to the DNAA. The decision signifies a procedural step but not an acquittal. - March 12, 2025