MUDA president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is set to learn his fate on Nov 9 regarding corruption charges related to Bersatu Youth (Armada) funds.
High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid will deliver the verdict six months after the defence concluded its case, according to the judicial department’s online system.
Lead prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin confirmed this development when contacted recently. Judge Azhar had reserved his judgement on April 11 after hearing submissions from both parties at the end of the defence case.
“Do not worry, I will not take long… my officer will inform both parties when the ruling is ready,” news portal New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
The prosecution had argued that the former minister had acted with malicious intent and abused his friend’s trust by instructing Bersatu assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali to withdraw RM1 mil from Armada’s bank account.
Shaharuddin contended that Syed Saddiq had never used RM120,000 for political purposes, asserting that the money was transferred into his Maybank account instead.
In response, Syed Saddiq’s lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo argued that the withdrawn money was intended for organising activities aligned with the party’s goals, promoting social justice, and safeguarding people’s welfare.
Gobind also maintained that the charge against Syed Saddiq under Section 405 of the Penal Code for abetting Rafiq in a criminal breach of trust involving the RM1 mil should be dismissed.
He also pointed out that the charge sheet explicitly stated that Rafiq had acted dishonestly, which the prosecution failed to establish.
On Oct 28, 2022, Syed Saddiq was ordered to enter his defence after the court ruled that the prosecution had presented credible evidence supporting each essential element of the offences.
The former Armada wing chief entrusted with control of Armada funds was charged on July 22, 2021, with abetting Rafiq in committing a criminal breach of trust involving RM1 mil of the organisation’s funds.
He also faced charges of misusing property specifically RM120,000 from a Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money.
Furthermore, he is accused of engaging in money laundering in two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputra account. – Sept 21, 2023
