The High Court here today found Member of Parliament for Muar, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, guilty on all charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering involving the Youth Wing funds of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Armada).

Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid delivered the verdict after determining that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case.

The court ruled that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt, and the prosecution successfully overcame the reasonable doubt.

As a result, Judge Azhar stated that the accused was found guilty on all charges.

UPDATE: The court has sentenced Syed Saddiq to seven years in prison, two strokes of the cane, and a fine of RM10 million. （Source)

The court is currently hearing submissions from the prosecution and defense regarding the verdict.

The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin along with Mohd Afif Ali, while lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Haijan Omar are representing Syed Saddiq.

Syed Saddiq, aged 30, was charged with conspiring with former Armada Assistant Treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with Armada funds totalling RM1 million, to commit a criminal breach of trust by misusing the funds.

The alleged act took place at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur, on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.

For the second charge, the accused is alleged to have misappropriated funds amounting to RM120,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise's Maybank Islamic Berhad account for his own use, causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money.

He is accused of committing this act at Malayan Banking Berhad, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, between April 8 and 21, 2018, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum of six months and a maximum of five years imprisonment, along with whipping and a fine upon conviction.

Syed Saddiq also faces two charges related to involvement in money laundering activities, namely transferring RM50,000 each from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which were proceeds from illegal activities.

He is accused of committing these offences at a bank on Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

For these offences, he can be sentenced under Section 4(1) of the same act, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a fine five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the illegal activities, upon conviction.

Source: Bernama