The Sabah High Court today upheld the Sessions Court decision to acquit former state police chief, Ramli Yusuff on a charge of using a police aircraft for his personal interests three years ago.

This is second time this week that Ramli has emerged victorious in court.

Today's decision was made by Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli, who said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (previously the Anti-Corruption Agency) case was flawed from the beginning.

ramli yusuff asset declare case 120310 05 On July 27, Sessions Court judge Supang Lian, in acquitting Ramli , said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case, therefore the accused deserved to be freed.

Ramli was originally charged on Nov 19, 2007, with abusing his power for his own pecuniary gain as Sabah police chief by ordering and using a police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him on an aerial surveillance of two lots in Ulu Tungku, Lahad Datu, in which his real estate company Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd had an interest.

He was alleged to have used the plane on June 15, 2007.

One of the 75 witnesses who testified at the Sabah Sessions court was the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.

 On Friday, Ramli, 58, whose last position was Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief at Bukit Aman was also acquitted of three counts of failure to declare his assets with the MACC.

I musa hassan police igp pc 250607 stern n deciding to set Ramli free, Supang noted that Musa's ( below ) evidence was contrary to the testimony of other senior officers and the court found the IGP's testimony unreliable.

Ramli had always maintained his innocence as he claimed to have used the aircraft while on official duty and in full uniform.

He claimed several police officers accompanied him, and that the aerial survey at that time was done to prevent the infiltration of the Abu Sayaf militants and illegal immigrants.

Acquitted on Friday

On Friday, Ramli 58, whose last position was Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief at Bukit Aman was also acquitted of three counts of failure to declare his assets with the MACC.

 The assets in question were :

1. Two office lots owned by his sisters at Jalan Yap Kuan Seng in Kuala Lumpur. The properties were registered under Bonus Circle Sdn Bhd and were purchased for slightly more than RM1 million. His sisters were directors in the investment holding company.

2. Owning 154,000 units Pemaju Industries Bhd shares.

3. Not declaring 20,000 units Telekom Malaysia Bhd shares.

Kuala Lumpur Sessions Judge M Gunalan in his decision noted that the complainant one Moo Sai Chin, was a person of dubious character engaged in a string of criminal activities. 

The judge also ruled there was an absence of a fair and thorough investigation to ascertain the truth of the related allegation based on the information relied upon by the complainant whom the court cannot consider to be credible and adequate... to suggest the accused had committed the offence. 

 Before he was charged in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, Ramli had strongly hinted that he and his officers were being victimised after his department took action against an alleged underworld kingpin - Johor-based businessman Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku, said to be close to Musa.

Following his acquittal on Friday, Ramli, who was the third senior most police officer in the country before he was charged, said he felt vindicated but noted the cases had resulted in the loss of rank, seniority and reputation for him.

Ramli also urged the MACC to withdraw the charge against his lawyer friend, Rosli Dahlan, who is facing similar charge of not declaring his assets to the ACA.

 Rosli who is facing a trial had also filed suits against the ACA, Bank Negara and three newspapers - The Star, New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia - in which he detailed how the IGP had used the MACC and the AG's Chambers against him and Ramli.