Syed Saddiq ordered to enter defence on charges related to Armada fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Incumbent Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has been ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on four charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

Syed Saddiq, 29, wearing a dark blue blazer, chose to give his evidence under oath from the witness stand at his defence trial which will begin on Feb 22 next year.

Judicial Commisioner Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid today ordered the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) president to enter his defence after finding that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case at the end of the prosecution 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 found 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 told Syed Saddiq that he 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 cient, 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, which will be held on Nov 19.

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

"If they (defence) wish to use witness statements, I would have no objection if they are presented (to prosecution) one week before the witnesses give evidence," said Wan Shaharuddin.

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

The prosecution was also conducted by DPPs Mohd 'Afif Ali, Muhammad Asraf Mohamed Tahir, Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan and Mohd Shahrom Idris while lawyers Datuk S. Ambiga, Haijan Omar and Lim Wei Jeit also represented the accused.

Syed Saddiq arrived at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here at about 9.15 am, and his parents Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Asagoff were present to show their support.

The former Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada or Bersatu Youth) chief, then entrusted with control of its RM1 million fund, was charged with abetting then Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing CBT of the fund at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

For the second charge, the former youth and sports minister is 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 also faces 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 Bumiputera account at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

When met by reporters, Syed Saddiq said this was an opportunity for him to clear his name by testifying under oath in the trial.

"I will explain the truth from my personal perspective to uphold justice," he added.

Asked whether the court ruling today would affect MUDA's campaign in GE15, Syed Saddiq said he would hold a party meeting soon to discuss related issues.

"I also think it is up to the people to make their assessment (of court ruling)," he added.

-- BERNAMA