Syed Saddiq told to enter defence against money laundering, CBT charges

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered incumbent Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to enter his defence against four charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

Judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid made the decision after finding that prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against Syed Saddiq, 29, at the end of the its case.

"I have studied all the evidence presented by the prosecution, and after giving the maximum consideration as required by the law, I am satisfied and find that in the four charges preferred against the accused, the prosecution has established a prima facie case against him. 

"As such, the accused is ordered to enter his defence on every charge," Azhar said.

He said Syed Saddiq had three choices in making his defence: to remain silent, to give evidence from the dock with an unsworn statement, or to give evidence under oath from the witness stand, under which the prosecution is allowed to cross-examine him.

Syed Saddiq’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo told the court that the defence would call 15 witnesses, including his client, and that their testimony might take almost two weeks.

Azhar then asked both sides whether the trial could be held next year since all parties would be busy this year because of the 15th general election on Nov 19.

Gobind asked for the trial to begin in February next year and deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin did not object to the request.

The court fixed Feb 22 to 24, March 13 and 14, and April 10 to 14 next year for the trial.

The Muda president was charged with conspiring with then Bersatu Youth wing assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with funds amounting to RM1 million, to commit breach of trust by misusing the funds at CIMB Bank, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2 on March 6, 2020.

He was also charged with misappropriating assets for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking, Taman Pandan Jaya between April 8 and 21 2018.

Syed Saddiq was also slapped with two other charges of engaging in illegal money laundering activities, by transferring RM50,000 each in his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, believed to be the result of illegal activities, at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru on June 16 and 19, 2018.