Former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq can finally breathe a sigh of relief after the Federal Court upheld his acquittal on four corruption charges, reported NST.
The decision was delivered by a three-member bench consisting of Court of Appeal president Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, and Datuk Che Ruzima Ghazali.
Earlier this morning, he was accompanied to court by his family members, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, former Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, and fiancé Bella Astillah.
Summary of events
In 2021, Syed Saddiq was accused of conspiring with Bersatu assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali to commit criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1 million of the organisation’s funds during his tenure as Bersatu Youth chief.
He was also accused of misusing RM120,000 from a bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for personal gain, causing Rafiq to dispose of the money.
Two counts of money laundering involving two transactions of RM50,000 each, believed to be from unlawful activities, was also brought against him.
On November 9, 2023, the KL High Court found him guilty on all charges, sentencing him to seven years in prison, a RM10 million fine, and two strokes of the cane.
Close to two years later, Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin stated that the prosecution failed to prove that Syed Saddiq had any dishonest intent when instructing the withdrawal of RM1 million from Armada’s fund in March 2020.
He added the lower court had erred in failing to properly evaluate the evidence and the legal elements required to prove the charges against the Muar MP.
Following Syed Saddiq’s acquittal, the prosecution filed an appeal against the decision.
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