The Federal Court has upheld Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s acquittal on corruption and money laundering charges, bringing an end to a three-year legal battle that had threatened to affect his political career.
According to local media, in a split decision, the majority of the three-member bench dismissed the prosecution’s appeal and ruled that the Court of Appeal was correct in overturning Syed Saddiq’s earlier convictions.
Justices Ruzima Ghazali and Collin Lawrence Sequerah formed the majority decision, while Justice Abu Bakar Jais dissented. The bench had heard the appeal six months ago.
Syed Saddiq was previously convicted by the High Court on four charges, including abetting former Bersatu Youth assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in the alleged misappropriation of RM1 million in Bersatu Youth funds.
He was also accused of misappropriating RM120,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise’s Maybank Islamic Bhd account by instructing Rafiq to dispose of the funds.
The 33-year-old was further charged with two counts of money laundering involving RM50,000 each. The charges alleged that the funds, believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, were transferred from his Maybank Islamic account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account at a bank in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on 16 and 19 June 2018.
However, the Court of Appeal unanimously acquitted Syed Saddiq of all charges before the prosecution brought the matter to the Federal Court.
With the Federal Court’s latest decision, the acquittal remains in place.
