SEBERANG PERAI, May 14 -- Former Penang deputy chief minister II P.Ramasamy has claimed trial to 17 counts of criminal breach of trust charges at the Sessions Court in Butterworth here.

He was charged with criminal breach of trust involving a total sum of RM859,131.29 in his capacity as the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) chairman at that time.

Ramasamy was alleged to have misused the property entrusted to him by PHEB to make payments totalling RM779,131.29 through cheques and telegraphic transfers for the purchase of gold for PHEB without the approval of the PHEB board of directors.

This occurred on 13 separate occasions between 2019 and 2023.

He was also charged with criminal breach of trust by making payments totalling RM65,00...