March hearing for Syed Saddiq's CBT appeal

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will have an opportunity on March 19 and 20 next year to quash his criminal breach of trust (CBT) conviction, which resulted in a seven-year jail term, RM10 million fine, and two rotan strokes.

The Court of Appeal this morning fixed the appeal hearing dates for the former youth and sports minister to set aside his guilty verdict and sentencing linked to RM1.12 million of Bersatu Youth funds.

The former Bersatu Youth chief’s counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik confirmed the hearing date set during case management today.

On Nov 9 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court imposed the sentence after finding Syed Saddiq guilty of four charges involving CBT, misappropriation of property, and money laundering linked to the monies.

In a written grounds of judgment released recently, trial judge Azhar Abdul Hamid said the punishment was justified as the criminal court took judicial notice of the constant recurring incidents of CBT and misappropriation.

The judge ruled that young people looked up to the Muar MP, who should have served as a good example.

However, Azhar allowed the Muar MP’s application to stay the execution of all the sentences pending disposal of the accused’s ongoing appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Charges

The former Muda president was charged with abetting former Bersatu Youth assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with RM1 million of Bersatu Youth funds, to commit CBT with the money.

The offence was purportedly committed at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2 on March 6, 2020.

The charge was framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and fine.

On the second charge, Syed Saddiq was accused of misappropriating RM120,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise’s Maybank Islamic Berhad account by making Rafiq dispose of the funds.

Syed Saddiq allegedly committed the offence at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya - between April 8 and 21, 2018.

The charge was framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with a maximum of five years imprisonment, caning and a fine.

Syed Saddiq also faced two counts of money laundering, via transactions of RM50,000 each, alleged to be proceeds from unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account in a bank at Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which is punishable by up to 15 years in jail, and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.

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