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The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
CBT charges hit Ramasamy
BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy ( pic ) faces up to 20 years in jail after being slapped with 17 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM859,131.29 from the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB), which he chaired from 2010 to 2023. Thirteen charges were related to the purchase of a gold-plated chariot worth RM779,131.29. Two other charges involving RM15,000 were meant for educational assistance, while the remaining two charges concerning RM65,000 were linked to medical aid. Ramasamy, who was entrusted with control over the board's assets, is accused of misusing the funds without obtaining formal approval from the board. All charges were said to have been committed between May 2, 2019, and April 18, 2023, at two banks located in Komtar and Prangin Mall. Clad in a black jacket, he appeared calm and pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Zulhazmi Abdullah. According to charges one to 13, Ramasamy is accused of making RM779,131.29 in payments via cheques and telegraphic transfers for the purchase of a gold-plated chariot from Manasa Wood Creations (MWC). The payments were issued in the name of PHEB staff L. Gunasagaran between May 2, 2019, and April 18, 2023. The 14th and 15th charges involved medical aid payments of RM50,000 and RM15,000 made via cheque on March 9, 2020, and Aug 24, 2021, respectively. For the 16th and 17th charges, Ramasamy allegedly issued two cheques, RM10,000 on Jan 5, 2022, and RM5,000 on Feb 9, 2022, for educational aid. All charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Mohd Azuyar prosecuted, while Ramasamy was represented by Dr Shamsher Singh Thind, Eng Yuh Pei and Archana Chandrasekaran. Datuk Selva Mookiah held a watching brief for PHEB. Noor Azura sought RM100,000 bail – RM60,000 for the first 13 charges and RM40,000 for the remaining four – with the condition that Ramasamy surrender his passport and report monthly to the nearest MACC office. Shamsher, in mitigation, requested a reduced bail, citing his client's full cooperation with investigations since December and voluntary court attendance. Zulhazmi set total bail at RM78,000 (RM60,000 for all the first 13 charges, RM10,000 for the 14th and 15th charges, and RM8,000 for the 16th and 17th charges), with one surety. He also imposed the requested conditions. Ramasamy posted bail.
Daily Express
14-05-2025
- Daily Express
Former Penang DCM pleads not guilty to 17 CBT charges
Published on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 14, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy ( pic ) was charged in the Sessions Court here 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 chairman 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 chariot to two different companies without first obtaining approval from the PHEB meeting. 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. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
14-05-2025
- Barnama
Ramasamy Pleads Not Guilty To 17 CBT Charges Involving PHEB Funds
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS BUTTERWORTH, May 14 (Bernama) -- Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy was charged in the Sessions Court here 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 chairman 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 chariot to two different companies without first obtaining approval from the PHEB meeting. bootstrap slideshow 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 is charged with committing the offence at a bank in the Timur Laut district on March 9, 2020, and August 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 meeting at the same bank on January 5 and February 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, if convicted. Earlier, the prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Mohd Azuyar, requested bail at RM90,000 for all charges against Ramasamy and also for him to surrender his passport to the court and to report himself at a MACC office once a month.
Daily Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Ramasamy claims trial to 17 CBT charges
Published on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 14, 2025 By: Predeep Nambiar, FMT Text Size: Former Penang deputy chief minister II and Penang Hindu Endowments Board chairman P Ramasamy is accused of using PHEB funds between May 2019 and February 2022 without obtaining the board's formal approval. BUTTERWORTH: Former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy was charged with 17 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) today involving Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) funds during his time at its helm. Ramasamy, who was the PHEB chairman from 2010 to 2023, is accused of using RM859,131.29 in PHEB funds between May 2019 and February 2022 without obtaining the board's formal approval. Thirteen charges against the 76-year-old are linked to the procurement of a RM779,131.29 gold-plated Thaipusam chariot in 2019. Two charges are linked to RM65,000 in medical assistance to individuals, while two other charges are linked to RM15,000 in education sponsorships. Ramasamy pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before judge Zulhazmi Abdullah at the sessions court here. The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction. Bail was set at RM78,000. Lawyers Shamsher Singh Thind, Eng Yuh Pei, and Archana Chandrasekaran represented Ramasamy while Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Azuyar prosecuted. Selva Mookiah held a watching brief for the PHEB. During mitigation, Shamsher said Ramasamy had cooperated with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) throughout the investigation process, including by paying a RM20,000 MACC bond when he was first arrested on May 12, 2024. Shamsher also said his client had not bothered anyone during the investigation or put anyone in PHEB under duress. 'The court must take his character, means, and standing into account. He is an Indian community leader without a title,' he said. The court set July 15 for mention. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
14-05-2025
- The Sun
Ramasamy pleads not guilty to CBT charges
PETALING JAYA: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy pleaded not guilty on 17 counts of criminal breach of trust during his tenure as Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) chairman. The 76-year-old was charged at Special Corruption Sessions Court in Butterworth and made the plea before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah today, Sinar Harian reported. Ramasamy, who was PHEB chairman from 2010 to 2023 has been reported for alleged abuse of power involving a total amount of RM859,131 of the board's funds without approvals. The charges were brought under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides that a conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, whipping, and a fine.
