PUTRAJAYA — Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman expresses gratitude and steadfast resolve after the Federal Court instructed the prosecution and defence to reconsider whether they wish to proceed with the final appeal.
The former youth and sports minister, when met at the Palace of Justice reflected on the lengthy legal battle, expressing deep appreciation for those who have supported him throughout what he described as nearly 700 days of relentless effort to clear his name.
"Thanking my exceptional legal team for leading us, who's not with us but with us in spirit including the legal team from the High Court and all the lawyers who came together, worked tirelessly day in and day out to fight for justice and to pursue for the truth.
"Now I can only leave my fate in the hands of Allah and also in the hands of the court.
"We've went through this journey now for more than 600 days, close to 700 days. We have never postponed, we have never tried to prolong the case. While it may take time, we will win... The truth will end up winning," he said.
He said this after the hearing of the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate his conviction on charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to RM1.12 million funds belonging to Bersatu Youth (Armada).
Syed Saddiq said he truly respects the judiciary, not just individual judges and noted that even during his conviction at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, he never spoke ill of any judge, as the judiciary must be protected and defended as the last bastion for the voiceless and citizens seeking justice.
"If anything, I would like to show my respect to the three judges and to the judiciary as a whole for allowing my case to proceed over the past 600 days," he said.
Earlier, in an unxpected move, a three-man bench led by Court of Appeal President Datuk Abu Bakar Jais granted a one-week "cooling-off" period for both the prosecution and defence to reconsider whether they wished to proceed with the final appeal.
Federal Court judges Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Razali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah also presided.
Syed Saddiq's lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik when met outside the court said the court’s directive caught the legal team by surprise.
"This was not something expected by the legal team, but I think the court did the right thing by asking both parties to go back and reflect on their positions in terms of the law and the facts of the case.
"I will not comment further, except to say that this is the court’s direction and we have to return and reconsider our respective cases," he said.
On June 25, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged Syed Saddiq, overturning his High Court conviction and sentence.
The High Court had previously sentenced him to seven years’ jail, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine.
The Attorney General’s Chambers filed an appeal to the Federal Court a day after the Court of Appeal’s decision.
Syed Saddiq faced a charge of abetting CBT of RM1 million in Armada funds.
He was also charged with misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise.
He also faced two additional counts of money laundering involving RM50,000 each.