All eyes on Federal Court tomorrow as Syed Saddiq awaits his fate

All eyes on Federal Court tomorrow as Syed Saddiq awaits his fate

SHAH ALAM – After five years of courtroom battles, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will know his fate tomorrow as the Federal Court delivers its verdict that will determine whether he remains a free man or have his conviction and sentence reinstated.

A three-man bench led by Court of Appeal president Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais is scheduled to deliver the decision at 9am on the prosecution’s appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling acquitting and discharging the Muar MP of four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds belonging to Bersatu’s youth wing, Armada.

The bench also comprised Federal Court judges Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

On Dec 12, last year, during the hearing of the prosecution’s final appeal, the Federal Court in an unprecedented move gave the prosecution one week to review its appeal after all parties had concluded their submissions.

The apex court directed the prosecution to deliberate and confirm whether it intended to proceed with the appeal.

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A few days later, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) instructed the prosecution to proceed with the appeal.

On Nov 9, 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted the former youth and sports minister on all four charges. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine.

However, on June 25, last year, the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him after allowing his appeal to overturn the High Court’s decision.

The AGC then filed an appeal to the Federal Court, the next day.

Tomorrow, if the Federal Court dismisses the prosecution’s appeal, Syed Saddiq will remain acquitted, but if the court allows the prosecution’s appeal, his conviction and sentence could be reinstated.

During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan handled the prosecution while Syed Saddiq was represented by lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.

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In 2021, Syed Saddiq was charged with conspiring with Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was then Armada’s assistant treasurer, to commit CBT involving RM1 million of Armada’s funds at CIMB Bank Berhad, KL Sentral, on March 6, 2020.

The charge was brought under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment, caning and a fine.

He also faced a charge of misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of between six months and five years, caning and a fine.

Syed Saddiq was accused of committing two money laundering transactions by transferring RM50,000 into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.

These charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the value of the proceeds involved.