Prosecution closes case in Syed Saddiq's money laundering trial

The prosecution in the criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering case involving Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman closed its case today after calling 30 witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the court that the prosecution was closing its case after calling back three of its witnesses for re-examination by the defence.

The three witnesses are Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officers Mohd Syahmeizy Sulong, Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin and Asbi Munip.

"The prosecution offered 13 witnesses to the defence," said Wan Shaharuddin, who led the prosecution team.

The witnesses included MACC forensic officers Moses Lawrence and Wan Zulkifli Wan Jusoh and Syed Saddiq's friends Mohamed Amshar Aziz, Nurali Nadzwan and Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya.
 
Judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid then ordered both parties to file their written submissions on Friday or by next Monday at the latest.

The court also set Oct 6 and 7 for oral submission by both parties.

Hearing of the case started on June 21, during which the prosecution called 30 witnesses including Syed Saddiq’s parents, Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Asagoff, as well as former Bersatu Youth assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali.

At today's proceedings, Syed Saddiq was represented by lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Haijan Omar.

Syed Saddiq, 29, was charged as the then Bersatu Youth wing chief, entrusted with control of its funds, with abetting Rafiq Hakim with CBT of RM1 million in funds belonging to the wing at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

As for the second charge, Syed Saddiq was alleged to have misused property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, by causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018.

He was also slapped with two counts of engaging in money laundering activities, through two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be 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 Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.