Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s defence team has closed its case in the former Bersatu Youth chief’s criminal trial linked to RM1.12 million of party funds.
Lead defence counsel Gobind Singh Deo told this to the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning after having wrapped up the re-examination of the fourth defence witness, Siti Nurul Hidayah, who used to be the accused’s private secretary.
Trial judge Azhar Abdul Hamid then set April 10 and 11 for clarification, and directed the prosecution and defence teams to file their written submissions by April 3.
During the defence stage of the trial which began on Feb 22, Syed Saddiq (above) testified that he was prosecuted for refusing to support Bersatu president and then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
During the prosecution stage of the trial last year, his parents, Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Asagoff, testified that their son was under pressure to back Muhyiddin. After leaving Bersatu, the accused co-founded Muda.
On Oct 28 last year, Azhar ordered the former youth and sports minister to enter his defence over one count of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), one count of misappropriation of assets and two counts of money laundering.
Earlier on Sept 27 last year, the prosecution team, headed by lead deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, closed its case after calling 30 witnesses in the trial, which began on May 21 2022.
Besides Syed Saddiq’s parents, among the prosecution witnesses are Rafiq Hakim, who is the former assistant treasurer of Bersatu Youth, as well as MACC investigating officers Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin, Syahmeizy Sulong and Asbi Munip.
The charges
Syed Saddiq was charged as the then Bersatu Youth chief - entrusted with control of its funds - with abetting Rafiq with CBT of RM1 million belonging to the political wing, at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.
The charge under Section 406 of the Penal Code specifies imprisonment of up to 10 years with whipping and is liable to a fine.
The 30-year-old was also charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for purportedly misusing RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, for himself by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018.
Syed Saddiq faces imprisonment for up to five years with whipping and is liable to a fine over this charge.
He also faces two counts of engaging in money-laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be the proceeds from unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputra account at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which provides jail time up to 15 years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the unlawful activity, upon conviction. - Mkini
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