Syed Saddiq ordered to enter defence in RM1.12m CBT case

Former Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has to answer four criminal charges linked to RM1.12 million of party funds.

However, the Muda president has vowed to clear his name in court and he would leave it to the people of his parliamentary constituency in regard to the party’s campaign for the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning ruled that the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against the incumbent Muar MP in the case of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

Today is set for the decision at the end of the prosecution’s case against the former youth and sports minister.

During open-court proceedings, judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid gave three options for Syed Saddiq’s (above) defence stage of the trial.

The first option was for the accused to remain silent, second for him to give an unsworn statement from the dock that cannot be cross-examined by the prosecutors, and the third option where he takes the witness statement in his defence and opens him to cross-examination.

At this juncture, lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo told the court that his client would choose the third option and that they would be calling a total of 15 witnesses, which includes the accused.

Azhar then set the defence stage of trial for 10 days next year. The hearing dates are Feb 22 to 24, March 13 and 14, as well as April 10 to 14.

The prosecution team was headed by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.

When met by the media after proceedings, Syed Saddiq reiterated that he entered the political arena to “clean up” politics and despite pressures from unspecified quarters, he would not lose his spirit to serve the people.

‘Let court clear my name’

The former Bersatu youth chief said the time has come for him to testify in court and call his defence witnesses to tell his side of the story so that “justice can win and justice is fair”.

“I look forward to clearing my name in the court of law,” Syed Saddiq declared.

When asked about how the court case would impact his campaigning in GE15, the Muda co-founder said it was for the people to decide and he would raise the matter with his party.

“I leave it to the good people of Muar,” the incumbent parliamentarian said.

Back on Sept 27, the prosecution closed its case after calling 30 witnesses in the trial, which began on May 21.

Among these witnesses are Syed Saddiq’s parents - Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Asagoff - and Rafiq Hakim, who is the former assistant treasurer of Bersatu Youth, as well as MACC investigating officers Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin, Syahmeizy Sulong and Asbi Munip.

Syed Saddiq was charged as the then Bersatu Youth chief - entrusted with control of its funds - with abetting Rafiq with CBT of RM1 million belonging to the political wing, at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

The charge under Section 406 of the Penal Code specifies imprisonment of up to 10 years with whipping and is liable to a fine.

The 29-year-old was also charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for purportedly misusing RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, for himself by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018.

Syed Saddiq faces imprisonment for up to five years with whipping and is liable to a fine over this charge.

He also faces two counts of engaging in money-laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputra account at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

The charge is framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which provides jail time up to 15 years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the unlawful activity, upon conviction.

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