Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed, whose real name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, 31, has been ordered to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence along with three strokes of the cane after the High Court here on Friday upheld his conviction for raping a woman seven years ago.
The ruling came after Justice Adlin Abdul Majid dismissed Da’i Syed’s appeal to overturn the conviction and to defer the sentence.
“The accused’s testimony was purely a denial, and there are no special reasons to postpone the sentence. This is a serious offence, and the previous conviction and sentence are sound. Therefore, the prison term begins today,” the judge said.
On August 30, 2024, Syed Shah Iqmal broke down in tears after the Sessions Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison and three strokes of the cane for the rape of a woman.
The case stems from an incident on September 11, 2019, at 1:35 a.m., when Syed Shah Iqmal allegedly raped a 23-year-old woman in a condominium room at I-City, Section 7. He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping if convicted.
On April 10, 2023, the Sessions Court had acquitted and released Syed Shah Iqmal after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. However, the High Court later allowed the prosecution’s appeal, ordered him to face trial, and ultimately upheld his conviction and sentence.
