KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former navy chief Ahmad Ramli Nor was on Wednesday ( Mar 12 ) granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for his alleged role in the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal.  ,
” After considering proposals from both parties and the Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s medical record on the accused’s health power, the court finds that he is inadequate for trial”, said Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin, as quoted by media outlet Free Malaysia Now.
The scandal refers to a RM9.14 billion ( US$ 2.06 billion ) contract to construct six ships awarded by the Ministry of Defence to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd through direct negotiation. The deal was apparently awarded in 2011 and took effect in October 2013.
The Indonesian government paid RM6.08 billion or two-thirds of the cost and five of the boats should have been handed over to the army by August 2022, but none has been delivered.
Ramli, 80, was captain of the Malaysian Royal Navy from 1996 to 1998 and is also the original handling director of Boustead Naval Shipyard.  ,
He was charged with three counts of unlawful breach of trust in August 2022 and , contested the fees.
He reportedly authorised payments totalling more than RM21.08 million to three Singapore-based businesses without the authorization of Boustead’s board of directors between 2010 and 2011.  ,
On the first command, he reportedly approved a settlement of more than RM13.5 million to Singapore’s Setaria Holding Limited between Jul 26, 2010 and Mar 25, 2011.  ,
On the following command, he reportedly approved a shift of about RM1.4 million to JSD Corporation Pte Ltd between Apr 19, 2011 and May 4, 2011.  ,
He is accused of another related crime in a settlement involving almost RM6.2 million to , Sousmarin Armada Ltd between Oct 28, 2010 and Nov 22, 2010.