Datuk Ramli Yusuff

Malaysia Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Datuk Ramli Yusuff was charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court this morning with abuse of power over the use of a police aircraft for his personal advantage.

Ramli, 55, pleaded not guilty and Judge Duncan Skodol fixed hearing from February 18 to 22, 2008. The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Azlinda Rasdi and Md Nazrul Nizam Md Zamri.

He is charged with using his public office for his pecuniary gain by ordering and using a Royal Malaysia Police Cessna Caravan aircraft to take him and two civilians Datuk Mohamad Yassin Yahya and Khalid Mohammad on an aerial surveillance of to lots of land in Ulu Tunku, Lahad Datu.

Kinsajaya Sdn Bhd, a real estate company, had interest in the land and that Ramli is alleged to have interest in the company.

Ramli, based in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur and the country's third highest ranking police officer, is said to have committed the offence at 7.50am on June 15, this year at the Sabah Police Air Unit Base in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu.

The charge is under Section 15(1) of the Anti Corruption Act, punishable under Section 16 of the same Act, which carries imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 upon conviction.

Ramli, who is represented by Counsel Mau Kam Peng, was released on RM10,000 bail with one surety. Bail was posted by his brother-in-law. Ramli was accompanied to the court by, amongst others, his wife Anita Harun, a Kuala Lumpur-based Sessions Court Judge.

While the proceeding was going on inside the court, a group of villagers from Kampung Labian, Ulu Tunku, Lahad Datu led by one Kunsun Nahul, 57, were picketing outside the court building.

Kunsun claimed that about 5,000 villagers had been occupying the land stated in the charge against Ramli, since the 1950s. They were picketing in protest of the said land being given to Kinsajaya.