A lighthearted moment marked the end of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s six-year legal battle in the case concerning Bersatu Youth funds.
After the Federal Court upheld Syed Saddiq’s (above, left) acquittal in a majority 2-1 decision, Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais, who led the panel, told the 33-year-old to “proceed with his plans”.
“We, judges, are also ordinary people. We also follow the developments around us.
“We observe (and) we know what is going on around us. We know…. The respondent (Syed Saddiq) has a plan for what to do next,” Abu Bakar said, expressing hope the plan proceeds well.
Abu Bakar, who sat with Federal Court judges Che Ruzima Ghazali and Collin Lawrence Sequerah, had called Syed Saddiq to approach the judges’ bench prior to the exchange.
Syed Saddiq had publicly announced on March 28 that actress Dayang Nabellah Awang Astillah, popularly known as Bella Astillah, had accepted his marriage proposal. Their engagement, held on the same day, was broadcast live.
Berita Harian reported Bella as saying on June 15 that she has yet to set a date for her wedding as her focus remains on the outcome of the case.
End of a journey
Che Ruzima and Sequerah decided in favour of Syed Saddiq, affirming his acquittal, while Abu Bakar was the sole dissenter.
Today’s decision heralded the end of a journey for the parliamentarian, who was charged with criminal breach of trust, funds misappropriation and money laundering linked to funds from Bersatu Youth in 2021.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court subsequently found Syed Saddiq guilty in 2023, and he was sentenced to seven years in jail, two strokes of the rotan, and an RM10 million fine.
The Court of Appeal overturned his conviction and sentence last year, leading the Attorney-General's Chambers to appeal the decision, which resulted in today's ruling.
The court was initially scheduled to deliver its decision on June 30. However, it was postponed to today because Che Ruzima was away on medical leave then.
The deferment drew public reactions, including from the MP’s lawyer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who called it unprecedented, while PSM questioned the last-minute postponement.
Only humans
Both Abu Bakar and Che Ruzima addressed the parties on the previous postponement before ending today’s proceedings.
“Despite being judges, we are also only humans. (Sometimes) We’re healthy; sometimes we’re not. That happens.
“So it is common when there are judges who are unwell… The same as lawyers as well. (The court) would have to postpone the proceeding when there were lawyers who were unwell.
“There’s nothing unprecedented (about this). In that manner, I hope everyone can appreciate that,” Abu Bakar said.
Che Ruzima further thanked deputy head II of the AGC’s Trial and Appeal division, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who led the prosecution’s team, for taking a neutral stance and for extending his well-wishes for the judge’s recovery. - Mkini
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