Kuala Lumpur sessions court judge Suzana Hussin set the date after deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim informed her that the High Court had rejected the former navy commander’s bid to strike out the charges against him, Bernama reported.
Nik Haslinie told the judge that the High Court had, when dismissing Ramli’s application, remitted the matter for the sessions court to assess the accused’s mental fitness.
Ramli is facing three charges of criminal breach of trust of about RM21.1 million from the littoral combat ship project, which was allegedly paid into bank accounts of companies in Singapore.
He had filed a motion in April asking for the charges to be dropped due to his poor health.
In her supporting affidavit, Ramli’s daughter, Rinnie Nor Ahmad Ramli, 50, said her father had been diagnosed with “progressive neurodegenerative”, a condition consistent with “moderate mixed dementia”.
Lawyer Yusof Zainal Abiden, representing Ramli, requested that the court set a date for mention as Ramli was not in court today. Yusof agreed to ensure the accused’s presence in court at the next date.
On July 26, 2024, High Court Judge Azhar Abdul Hamid dismissed Ramli’s application, holding that the trial judge was in the best position to assess the accused’s mental state.
Ramli was charged on Aug 16, 2022, with committing CBT when approving a RM13.5 million payment to the account of Syarikat Setaria Holding Limited held with the Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore without the approval of BNS’s board of directors.
The offence was allegedly committed between July 26, 2010, and March 25, 2011.
He is also facing a charge for approving payment of RM1.36 million to the account of JSD Corporation held with OCBC Bank in Singapore without the board’s approval between April 19, 2011, and May 4, 2011.
He was also charged with committing a similar offence by approving a RM6.18 million payment to the account of Syarikat Sousmarin Armada Ltd held with the Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore, between Oct 28, 2010, and Nov 22, 2010.
All the offences were alleged to have been committed at BNS’s offices at Menara Boustead, 69 Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur.
The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years with whipping and is liable to fine if found guilty.