The prosecution’s final appeal against the acquittal of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering involving Armada funds was brought before the Federal Court today.
Court of Appeal President Datuk Abu Bakar Jais presided over a three-judge Federal Court panel as the hearing commenced at 9.30am. The other judges on the panel are Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Razali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who was sworn in as a Federal Court judge on December 3.
The prosecution team is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, assisted by DPPs Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan and others.
Syed Saddiq, 33, is represented by lawyers Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Kee Wei Lon and Lim Wei Jiet. He arrived at the Palace of Justice at 8.26am dressed in a white shirt and black coat, accompanied by family members, supporters and singer-actress Bella Astillah.
On June 25, a three-judge Court of Appeal panel — comprising Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin — unanimously acquitted and discharged Syed Saddiq, overturning his conviction and sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine imposed by the High Court on November 9, 2023.
The Attorney General’s Chambers filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Court the following day.
Syed Saddiq had been charged with abetting former Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million in Armada funds at CIMB Bank Berhad, KL Sentral on March 6, 2020. The charge, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, caning and a fine.
He was also accused of misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of six months to five years, whipping and a fine.
Additionally, he faced two charges of money laundering involving RM50,000 transfers into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. These charges fall under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the amount involved.
