Syed Saddiq can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya cleared him of all four corruption-related charges earlier today (June 25), a major reversal from his previous conviction in 2023.
Syed Saddiq freed from all charges
The panel, led by Justices Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah, and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, delivered the unanimous decision, acquitting the Muar MP of criminal breach of trust (CBT).
He was also acquitted of misappropriation of property. In addition, the court cleared him of two counts of money laundering, all of which involved funds belonging to ARMADA, the youth wing of BERSATU.
According to Berita Harian, Judge Noorin 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.
A breakdown of the charges
Here are the four charges Syed Saddiq had been facing:
- First charge – Abetting ARMADA’s then Assistant Treasurer, Rafiq Hakim Razali, in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million from the youth wing’s funds.
- Second charge – Misappropriating RM120,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by ordering Rafiq to dispose of the amount through a Maybank account in April 2018.
- Third & fourth charges – Two counts of money laundering, where Syed Saddiq allegedly transferred RM50,000 each from his personal Maybank account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account — funds the prosecution claimed were illegal proceeds.
But with the Court of Appeal ruling that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove he acted dishonestly, all charges have now been dismissed.
Previously sentenced to jail and whipping
Back in November 2023, the High Court sentenced Syed Saddiq to seven years in jail, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine after he was found guilty on all counts. That conviction is now officially overturned.
The ruling marks a major win for the former Youth and Sports Minister, who has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process.
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