Ramasamy pleads not guilty to 17 CBT charges involving over RM800k

Former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy was charged in the Butterworth Sessions Court today on 17 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving funds belonging to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) totalling RM859,131.29.

Ramasamy, 76, pleaded not guilty to all the charges before judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.

On all the 13 counts, Ramasamy, was charged as the then PHEB chairperson entrusted with the funds, to have committed CBT by dishonestly misusing the funds to pay a total of RM779,131.29 in separate payments via cheque and telegraphic transfer for the purchase of a gold-plated chariot to two different companies without first obtaining approval from the board.

He is accused of committing the offences in the Timur Laut district between 2019 and 2023.

Ramasamy was also charged with another two counts of making a similar offence, involving payments totalling RM65,000 via cheques to two individuals for medical expenses without obtaining the approval of the PHEB meeting.

Ramasamy was charged with committing the offence at a bank in the Timur Laut district on March 9, 2020, and Aug 24, 2021.

He is also charged with two other similar charges of making separate payments totalling RM15,000 via cheques to two students for educational financial assistance payments without obtaining the approval of the PHEB board at the same bank on Jan 5 and Feb 9, 2022.

All the 17 charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides a maximum prison sentence of 20 years with whipping and a fine.

Bail sought

Earlier, the prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Azuyar, requested bail at RM90,000 for all charges against Ramasamy.

He also has to surrender his passport to the court and report to an MACC office once a month.

However, Ramasamy’s lawyer, Shamsher Singh Thind, requested that the bail be reduced on the grounds that his client, who holds a doctorate in political science from Universiti Malaya and was once a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is unemployed and dependent on his pension money.

He said Ramasamy, who has three children and three grandchildren, is the chairperson of the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai), and is a social figure who often voices issues concerning the people, especially the Indian community.

Ramasamy is also represented by lawyers Eng Yuh Pei and Archana Chandrasekaran, while lawyer Selva Mookiah is holding a watching brief for PHEB.

The court allowed Ramasamy bail of RM78,000 with one surety for all charges and imposed additional conditions as requested by the prosecution.

The court set July 15 for mention.

Political vendetta

Speaking at a press conference later, Ramasamy described the charges against him as a political vendetta.

He claimed the coalition was punishing him for leaving DAP in 2023, forming Urimai and criticising Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim often.

He added that government leaders also feared that Urimai may gain prominence, as it managed to sway Indian voters during several by-elections, such as in Sungai Bakap and Ayer Kuning.

“So, the idea is… how to discredit Ramasamy? What better way than to place charges on me for CBT?

“They did not say I took money… they are saying I didn’t seek approval,” he added.

Touching on the charges, Ramasamy said all decisions by the PHEB board were made collectively.

“If cheques were RM5,000 and below, I think the secretary will sign in.

“If it’s RM5,000 and above, the secretary and I will sign it.

“So, there is no way I could sign the cheques unilaterally. All were done in a proper manner,” said Ramasamy, who served as PHEB chairperson from 2008 until 2023.

The former Perai lawmaker joined DAP in 2005. Ramasamy also served as Batu Kawan MP after the 12th general election.

- Bernama

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