Mitra scandal: 'Datuk' pleads not guilty to RM5.18mil CBT charge

IPOH: A company director, who is a Datuk, has been slapped with six charges for criminal breach of trust involving funds of about RM5.18mil from the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra).

Datuk L. Ragu Raman, 52, pleaded not guilty after the charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code were read to him before Sessions Court judge M Bakri Abd Majid here on Friday (Feb 18).

According to the charges, Ragu Raman, who was Ternakan Kamran Sdn Bhd director and entrusted with the funds, was said to have committed the offence at a bank in Teluk Intan on Jan 29 and Oct 18, 2021.

If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 20 years and whipped and fined, reported Sinar Harian.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiqah Izzati Mazlan requested the court to set bail at RM100,000 for all charges.

Ragu Raman's lawyer S. Preakas requested for lower bail, believing that the charges were done mala fide.

M Bakri set bail at RM50,000 for all charges with one surety and ordered Ragu Raman to surrender his passport to the court until the case was finished.

He also set Apr 21 for mention.

It was reported in October last year that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had arrested 18 individuals involving 10 companies, associations and non-governmental organisations to assist investigations into the misappropriation of Mitra funds.

Last month, the MACC arrested 22 individuals in seven states, including Perak, Selangor, Kedah, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

Mitra was a special government unit set up to address the socio-economic development of the B40 group among the Indian community.