PUTRAJAYA - Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman walks out of court a free man today after the Court of Appeal acquitted him of all four charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property and money laundering involving party funds linked to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada).
In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel, comprising Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed the former youth and sports minister’s appeal and overturned his conviction and sentence handed down by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 9, 2023.
The case involved one charge of abetting criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million, one charge of misusing property (RM120,000), and two charges of money laundering (RM50,000 each).
Upon hearing the verdict, Syed Saddiq, dressed in a black suit, covered his face with his hands in apparent relief after being freed from the sentence.
The Johor Bahru-born politician then performed a prostration of gratitude in the dock and embraced his parents, while singer Bella Astillah watched on.
Reading the unanimous judgement, which lasted over an hour, Judge Noorin stated that the charges against the politician were ultimately unfounded.
According to her, instructing someone to withdraw funds could not be considered a disposal of funds.
“The prosecution failed to prove Syed Saddiq’s dishonest intent when he gave instructions for RM1 million to be withdrawn from Armada’s funds.
"As such, the appellant, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, is acquitted and discharged from the conviction and the sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine,” she said.
On November 9, 2023, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid had sentenced Syed Saddiq to seven years in prison, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine after finding him guilty of four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misuse of property, and money laundering related to Armada’s funds.
Syed Saddiq later filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision, submitting 18 grounds in his petition to be acquitted of all four charges and to overturn the sentence.
On the first charge, Syed Saddiq was accused of abetting Rafiq Hakim Razali, then assistant treasurer of Armada Bersatu, who was entrusted with RM1 million in funds, in committing criminal breach of trust by misusing the funds.
The offence was alleged to have been committed at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, whipping, and a fine, upon conviction.
Regarding the second charge, the accused was alleged to have misused property for himself, namely RM120,000 from a Maybank Islamic Berhad account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, by causing Rafiq to dispose of the said funds.
Syed Saddiq was alleged to have committed the offense at Malayan Banking Berhad, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine.
He also faced two charges of involvement in money laundering by transferring RM50,000 each from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which were proceeds from unlawful activities.
Syed Saddiq was thus accused of committing the offenses at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act.