Former law minister urges meticulous reevaluation of Syed Saddiq's prosecution strategy

SHAH ALAM – Former law miniser Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim has spoken out against what he perceives as injustice in the legal case involving Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

Expressing empathy and deep concern for Syed Saddiq, Zaid argues that ordinary citizens, workers, street food vendors, and journalists should not be indiscriminately labelled as money launderers.

He called for a meticulous reevaluation of the prosecution strategy, highlighting the need to reconsider charging individuals with excessive punishment across various roles, including political, statesman, parliamentary, legal, and professional positions.

"The punishment imposed seems disproportionately harsh for Syed Saddiq's case.

"People engaged in money laundering are typically involved in illicit activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, or other criminal enterprises.

"The fines and processes for such cases are different. I find it unfair," Zaid recently said in an exclusive Sinar Daily interview.

He stressed the importance of distinguishing between individuals involved in unlawful activities and those laundering money for political purposes.

Zaid proposed an alternative approach for Syed Saddiq's legal proceedings, suggesting charges related to corruption or business malpractice.

His proposed sentence, a two-year jail term and a fine of two hundered thousand, harkens back to a previous era in Malaysian judicial practices, before the surge in money laundering cases.

Zaid also advocated for creating a new justice system, envisioning a comprehensive overhaul of the judicial system.

"It's about time we brought some sense into the system, and the sense can only come with reform in the attorney government office," he said.

On Nov 9, the High Court sentenced Syed Saddiq to three years jail and one stroke of the cane for abetting criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million of Bersatu Youth (Armada)'s funds.

The 31-year-old former minister is also facing two years imprisonment and one stroke of the cane for misusing property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise.

Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid imposed two years imprisonment and a fine of RM10 million in default four years jail for two money laundering charges.

However, Syed Saddiq is now safe from the sentence as the court allowed his application for a stay of execution pending appeal.

On Oct 28, 2022, Syed Saddiq was ordered to enter his defence after the court ruled that the prosecution had successfully adduced credible evidence proving each essential ingredient of the offences.