Syed Saddiq: I was prosecuted for not backing Muhyiddin

Former Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claimed that he was prosecuted for refusing to support party president and then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Muda president alleged this during his testimony to support his defence against four criminal charges linked to RM1.12 million of Bersatu funds.

During proceedings before the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, the Muar MP testified that he has nothing to hide as the investigation was initially over his report regarding alleged missing funds from a safe at his Petaling Jaya home in March 2020.

While being re-examined by lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo, the former youth and sports minister claimed that later that month of that year, the MACC announced that it would investigate him over the matter.

Gobind: In your sworn statement, my learned friends (the prosecution) challenged you and said your statement was an afterthought. Is your statement made in court, regarding the charges your face in court, true?

Syed Saddiq: It is the truth, Yang Arif (Your Honour). Until today, I remember the moment it transpired, what was discussed, where and what happened after because what happened was clearly wrong, and I would not wish my political enemies to go through the same (thing).

Gobind: When you said what happened was clearly wrong, what did you mean?

Syed Saddiq: The demand to support Muhyiddin, although I have nothing personal against him, and that will stop the prosecution, is just wrong. To be told that by the investigating officer (IO) of my case, the raid at my house. He (the IO) was with me every day. For him to say the MACC is a political tool when the government changes, and that I was a political victim, is not right. If anything, I hope this will be corrected.

Gobind: What is referred to as wrong, is the demand to support Muhyiddin, if not charges will be brought against you. That is what you are saying? As far as you are concerned, that is wrong?

Syed Saddiq: Correct. That is wrong.

During the prosecution stage of the trial last year, Syed Saddiq’s parents Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Asagoff testified that their son was under pressure to back Muhyiddin.

Second day of defence stage

The proceedings before trial judge Azhar Abdul Hamid today is the second day of the defence stage, following the court on Oct 28 last year ordering the accused to enter his defence over one count of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), one count of misappropriation of assets and two counts of money laundering.

Yesterday was the first day of the defence stage when Syed Saddiq took the witness stand.

Earlier today, during cross-examination by lead deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and other members of the prosecution, the accused denied that the funds that disappeared from the house belonged to Bersatu.

Syed Saddiq had reiterated his denial of having ever issued a directive to former Bersatu youth wing personnel to take out RM1 million of party funds.

The accused contended that the RM120,000 - which was alleged by the prosecution to be party funds - was actually his own money raised through two fundraising events for his election campaign in Muar.

Syed Saddiq also contended that a total of RM100,000 - which prosecutors claimed were the proceeds from unlawful activities that made their way into the accused’s Amanah Saham Bumiputera account - were his own funds.

The trial will resume tomorrow morning.

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

Besides Syed Saddiq’s parents, among the prosecution witnesses are 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.

The charges

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 30-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 the 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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