12-3-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Former Royal Malaysian Navy commander Ahmad Ramli Nor, 80, has been granted judicial reprieve. The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, presided over by Judge Suzana Hussin, issued a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 12 March 2025, citing the defendant’s compromised medical capacity.
The case stems from a massive naval procurement initiative valued at RM9.14 billion, which has been mired in controversy since its inception. The project, awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, has faced severe scrutiny due to significant delays and financial irregularities.
The octogenarian former naval chief, who later served as managing director of Boustead Naval Shipyard, faced serious allegations of financial misconduct. The charges centred on unauthorised payments exceeding RM21.08 million to three Singapore-registered firms between 2010 and 2011, allegedly circumventing proper board approval procedures.
Medical evidence proved pivotal in the court’s decision. Ramli’s defence team, led by Yusof Zainal Abiden, successfully argued their client’s inability to stand trial due to a progressive neurodegenerative condition, likened to moderate mixed dementia. This diagnosis, supported by his daughter Rinnie Nor Ahmad Ramli’s affidavit, led to a psychiatric evaluation at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
The project’s current status remains problematic. Despite the government having disbursed RM6.08 billion, representing two-thirds of the initial contract value, not a single vessel has been delivered. Recent parliamentary disclosures indicate a reduction in the fleet size from six to five vessels, with delivery now projected for 2029.
Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has reported that construction stands at 73 per cent completion, with the inaugural vessel’s handover anticipated in August 2026. The project’s total cost has escalated to RM11 billion, highlighting ongoing concerns about fiscal management and project oversight.
The prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, had initially rejected Ramli’s representation letter dated 10 January and stood ready to proceed with the trial. However, the court’s decision to discharge the case has resulted in the return of Ramli’s bail monies, marking a significant turning point in this high-profile naval procurement scandal.
