The Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Ramli Yusuff was today charged with two counts of failing to disclose his assets at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today.

He also faced a third charge for being involved in business despite being a civil servant.

Ramli, 55, the country's third highest ranking police officer, claimed trial to all the three charges.

The charges preferred by the Anti-Corruption Agency against Ramli relate to:

  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.

  • His failure to disclose 154,000 unit of shares in Pemaju Industries Bhd.

  • For breaching the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) general orders by being a director for Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd as of April 25, 2006. He was already the CCID chief at that time.

    • The deputy public prosecutors from ACA - Mohd Jazamuddin Ahmad Nawawi and Zulkarnain Hassan - sought a RM40,000 bail and for Ramli's passport to be impounded.

    Sessions judge SM Komathy Suppiah however granted him bail at RM20,000, which was posted by a family friend. Ramli was also allowed to retain his passport.

    The trial for the first two charges will take place on Jan 15-18 next year while the case involving the third charge will be heard on March 3-7.

    If found guilty of the first two charges, Ramli could face a jail term of between 14 days to 20 years. He will also be liable to be fined up to RM100,000.

    For the third charge, a conviction would mean a maximum one-year jail sentence and/or a fine.

    Restoring his reputation

    The prosecution team said that it would be bringing in 20 witnesses for the first two charges and another 15 for the third charge.

    Ramli's lead counsel K Kumaraendran said that his client would be making an application for a joint trial involving all three charges.

    "His entire career of 38 years in PDRM is in jeopardy as a result of these charges... they have cast a shadow in his character and in his credibility as a responsible police officer," said Kumaraendran.

    "He intends to restore his good name," he added.

    Ramli, who wore a navy blue suit and blue stripped tie, did not say anything throughout the proceeding, apart from claiming trial.

    Earlier today, the top cop was summoned to the ACA headquarters and was then arrested at about 11.45am after statements were recorded from him.

    Ramli had arrived at the agency in a black BMW at 11.20am, accompanied by his wife and four lawyers and was met by an ACA officer.

    Ramli is the most senior cop after ex-police chief Abdul Rahim Noor to be charged in the country's history.

    He has been under ACA probe following allegations that he had amassed assets worth RM27 million and which he had denied at a press conference last Tuesday.

    In the press conference, Ramli also lambasted the ACA for leaking information regarding the probe to the newspapers.

    In the follow-up to the investigations, the ACA had on Oct 13 charged Ramli's lawyer Rosli Dahlan with not disclosing all information on his assets in his sworn statement.

    Rosli, 46, was alleged to have not complied with the terms of a notice dated July 17, 2007, issued under Section 32(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, to give full information relating to his assets.

    Sisters questioned

    Yesterday the ACA continued its investigations by recording statements from Ramli's sisters - one in Kota Baru and another in Putrajaya - a move which was immediately described by Ramli as "highly questionable".

    In a press statement issued in response to the ACA's latest move, Ramli said both his sisters had given their statements to the agency before.

    The senior police official also questioned as to why the ACA was still investigating the matter as AG Abdul Gani had revealed on Tuesday that the investigation papers had already been handed to him.

    "My sister (in Kota Baru) was asked by the ACA officers to follow them for the purpose of a witness statement being taken," said Ramli.

    "She offered to make her statement at home, given my father's health, but was forcibly informed that she would be arrested if she did not comply," he added in a statement released through his lawyer, Rosli.

    He said that his younger sister, a civil servant in Putrajaya, was also similarly questioned although she was unwell and on a two-day medical leave.

    ACA cleared

    Meanwhile, it was also reported today that the Internal Security Ministry would be looking into complaints by Ramli that he was being victimised as a result of a turf war in the police force.

    Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum said Ramli's claims that he had been victimised by the ACA and that the police had failed to protect their own men would be studied.

    Another minister, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz, however warned Ramli not to use the media to channel his views on the matter.

    He said Ramli's statement to the media on Tuesday was discussed by the cabinet at its meeting yesterday, but no decision was made.

    "We feel that Ramli should defend himself in court and not give a press conference," he said, as reported by Bernama today.

    Nazri also said that he was informed by the ACA that it had not reveal any information pertaining to the investigation to anyone.

    "The ACA told me it did not give out the name of the officer being investigated. I do not understand what he meant when he said we did not protect him," said Nazri.

    The de facto law minister also said that he did not know if Ramli would be charged in court following the ACA investigation.

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