The defence counsel for Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman accused the prosecution witness of sabotaging his client over Bersatu’s fund withdrawal during the RM1.2 million misappropriation trial against the Muar MP today.
Gobind Singh Deo has questioned Bersatu Youth treasurer Rafiz Hakim Razali during cross-examination before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid if his issue with the withdrawn funds was really an issue of lacking protocol within the party.
Rafiq had testified yesterday that Article 24.8 of Bersatu’s constitution led to his arrest by the MACC.
According to Article 24.8 of the party constitution, any expenditure above RM500,000 cannot be made without approval and permission from the party’s supreme council and the party treasurer can only keep up to RM50,000 at any given time.
‘No proposals presented’
Today, Rafiq told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that no proposals were presented for the withdrawal and distribution of the funds, during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.
He added that the withdrawal of the funds did not follow the procedure from the get-go.
Later during cross-examination, Rafiq admitted that he had been told by the MACC that the withdrawal of funds contravened Article 24.8 of the party constitution.
Gobind: You were told by the MACC that the constitution of Bersatu was contravened, right?
Rafiq: Yes.
Gobind: But now you know that the MACC got it wrong because Article 24.8 does not say withdrawals (are an offence), it says that expenditure for a one-off payment of RM500,000 (is an offence), which wasn’t the case here, correct?
Rafiq: Yes.
Gobind: Is that why your whole evidence has changed now, and you’re focusing on the working papers?
Rafiq: Yes.
Gobind: This is ridiculous. Who told you to do this? Which officer? Which DPP (deputy public prosecutor)? Because you don’t know this by yourself, you are not a lawyer.
Rafiq: To do what, sir?
Gobind: To come to court and forget about Clause 24 and focus on the proposal papers?
Rafiq: Nobody told me to do this.
Gobind: I put it to you that your evidence today is highly suspect. If your grouse is (Article) 24.8, that would have been the first thing you would have pointed out in court this morning, right?
Rafiq: Yes.
Gobind: So, you are fixing him up.
Rafiq: No.
Gobind: Of course you would say no, but that is something the court will decide.
Yesterday, former Bersatu Youth assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi said that while withdrawing party funds alone was not an offence, it would be if the money was spent without prior approval.
Proceedings before Azhar will continue tomorrow morning.
Syed Saddiq had claimed trial previously in the Sessions Court for two charges of misappropriation involving RM1.12 million from Bersatu Youth.
The Muar MP also pleaded not guilty to two counts of abetting money laundering, whereby each alleged transaction involved transferring RM50,000 from his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.
According to the two abetment charges framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, Syed Saddiq was accused of transferring the funds on June 16 and 19, 2018, at Maybank Islamic Berhad in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru.
The four charges were later transferred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court. - Mkini
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