Crime & Courts

Former Navy chief arrives in court over charges involving LCS project

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor arrived in court and is expected to face charges of committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) over the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project scandal.

Ramli, 79, clad in a dark suit arrived at the court complex here about 8.45am in a heavily tinted black vehicle.

He did not appear to be camera shy as press photographers and video crew snapped away at the court's lobby.

The former Royal Malaysian navy chief is expected to face three counts of CBT under Section 409 of the Penal Code before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin.

The offence carries maximum 20 years imprisonment, whipping and fine upon conviction.

Last Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a statement said that they had completed investigations into the delay involving the RM9.128 billion LCS project.

The investigation paper submitted to the AGC came with the MACC's recommendation to charge several people in court.

The cabinet had also called on the MACC to speed up its probe on the ship scandal.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said those responsible for the scandal should be charged in court once enough evidence had been obtained.

The Public Accounts Committee's findings revealed that there were discrepancies and delays in the construction of six littoral combat ships since 2017.

Several high-profile people were alleged to have played a role in siphoning and abusing their power in the purchase dealings of these ships.

The Parliamentary Select Committee disclosed that the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) first state-of-the-art LCS was not yet completed when it was launched in 2017.

PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee's proceedings found that LCS 1 was less than 44 per cent complete at the time of the launch.

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