Syed Saddiq didn’t talk about GE14 expenditure list, says witness

 

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is standing trial on four counts of CBT and money laundering. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A witness told the High Court today that she was not aware of a list containing 10 items of expenditure amounting to RM171,675 for the 14th general election (GE14) campaign that was submitted by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to the Election Commission (EC).

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin, 33, who was recalled for cross-examination by the defence team made the statement when asked by counsel Gobind Singh Deo who is representing Syed Saddiq at the Muar MP’s criminal breach of trust and money laundering trial before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid.

Gobind: Are you aware of the 10 items (of expenditure) that YB Syed Saddiq had submitted to the EC, namely, candidate deposit (RM10,000), campaign material deposit (RM5,000), election advertisement permit (RM200), election advertisement (RM50), PKR souvenirs (RM51,784), cost of accommodation (RM2,120), distribution and advertising (RM29,100), printing (RM69,491), photostat materials (RM750) and button badges (RM3,180)?

Nurul Hidayah: I did not know (about the 10 items of expenditure).

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Asyraf Mohamed Tahir, the 28th witness said Syed Saddiq did not inform her of the expenditure declaration when she was recording his statement.

“YB Syed Saddiq only told me to refer to the expenditure document given to Amshar (the individual said to be managing the personal and political finances of Syed Saddiq). However, Amshar denied managing the receipts of payment for GE14 in 2018,” she said.

Apart from Nurul Hidayah, two more MACC investigating officers were also called back to give their statements, namely Syahmeizy Sulong and Asbi Munip.

The prosecution today concluded its case after calling 30 witnesses to testify. The court set Oct 6 and 7 for oral submissions by both parties.

Syed Saddiq is standing trial on four counts of CBT and money laundering. He is alleged to have misappropriated a total of RM1.12 million belonging to Bersatu.

From the amount, RM120,000 was said to be party funds for the 2018 general election, while RM1 million was allegedly withdrawn by him without the top leadership’s consent.

He also pleaded not guilty to the two charges of money laundering amounting to RM50,000 each. - FMT