KUALA LUMPUR: Former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff stood as a guarantor to his sisters' company, Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd, in securing an overdraft facility and term loan amounting to RM700,000 to purchase two shoplots in 1999, the Sessions Court heard yesterday.

Former Hock Hua Bank branch manager Chong Siew Mau told the court that she had recommended to the bank's headquarters to approve the loan since Ramli had given his personal guarantee to the loan application.

During examination-in-chief, Siew, 60, said Ramli met her at the bank in the middle of 1999 and had acted on behalf of the company in applying for an overdraft facility of RM500,000 and fixed loan of RM200,000.

"Besides the personal guarantee from Ramli, as security, Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd also charged the two shoplots to the bank," she said.

Questioned by the prosecution head of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), Abdul Razak Musa, what other criteria were taken into consideration in approving the loan, Siew said Ramli had a good track record with the bank where the senior police officer had been given several banking facilities including an overdraft facility of up to RM2.3 million.
Siew was testifying in the trial of Ramli who was charged with failing to declare the ownership of 20,000 Telekom Malaysia Berhad shares, 154,000 Permaju Industries Berhad shares and interests in two office properties worth RM1,032,840.

Ramli, 56, is alleged to have committed the offences at the office of the ACA's deputy public prosecutor in Putrajaya on Sept 17, 2007.

When asked by Razak whether Siew had ever met Ramli's two sisters -- Rohmah and Roslina -- who were the two directors of Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd, she said: "No".

"I am aware Ramli was one of the signatories to the company's account with his two sisters and he acted as the contact person with the bank in making the application for the overdraft facility and loan," added Siew.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Siew said the loans were approved and released to Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd where the authorised signatories had acknowledged the payments.

She also told the court that one of the criteria that the bank used to approve the facilities to the company was that Ramli had pledged his properties including a condominium unit and a bungalow as collateral.

"The bank also checked on the credit worthiness of the guarantor where he had maintained good track records," said Siew.

The hearing before judge M. Gunalan continues on Nov 6. -- Bernama