Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, Dr P. Ramasamy, has been charged in the Sessions Court on 17 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving a total of RM859,131.29 belonging to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB). Ramasamy, 76, pleaded not guilty to all charges before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.
Of the 17 charges, 13 relate to allegations that Ramasamy, as the then PHEB chairman, dishonestly misused RM779,131.29 by making separate payments via cheque and telegraphic transfer for the purchase of a gold chariot to two companies without the prior approval of the PHEB meeting. The alleged offences occurred in the Timur Laut district between 2019 and 2023.
He faces two additional counts of criminal breach of trust for making payments totalling RM65,000, via cheques, to two individuals for medical expenses, again allegedly without PHEB meeting approval. These offences are accused of taking place at a bank in the Timur Laut district on 9 March 2020 and 24 August 2021.
Ramasamy is further charged with two counts involving payments totalling RM15,000 to two students as financial assistance for education, allegedly made without PHEB approval at the same bank on 5 January and 9 February 2022.
All 17 charges are filed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
During proceedings, the prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Nurnajihatul Idayu Mohd Azuyar, applied for bail to be set at RM90,000 for all charges, for Ramasamy’s passport to be surrendered, and for him to report monthly to a MACC office. Ramasamy’s lawyer, Dr Shamsher Singh Thind, requested a reduction in bail, asserting that his client, who holds a doctorate in political science from Universiti Malaya and is a former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer, is currently unemployed and reliant on his pension.
Dr Shamsher Singh also stated that Ramasamy, who has three children and three grandchildren, currently serves as Chairman of the United for the Rights of Malaysians (Urimai) Malaysian People’s Rights Alliance Party (Urimai), and is regarded as a social figure who regularly raises issues pertinent to the Indian community in the country.
Ramasamy is represented by lawyers Eng Yuh Pei and Archana Chandrasekaran, with Datuk Selva Mookiah holding a watching brief for PHEB.
The court granted bail at RM78,000 with one surety and imposed additional restrictions as requested by the prosecution. The case was fixed for mention on 15 July.
Ramasamy, also a former DAP deputy chairman, served as PHEB chairman from 2008 to 2023. He joined DAP in 2005 and served for 18 years before announcing his departure. He served as Deputy Chief Minister II after winning the Perai state seat, as well as the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat during the 12th General Election in 2008.
In August last year, current PHEB chairman, RSN Rayer, submitted the findings of an internal forensic audit to the MACC for further investigation. The specifics of the findings, which are said to contain several significant clues, were not disclosed.
