KUALA LUMPUR – Former Minister of Youth and Sport, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was charged at the Sessions Court for criminal breach of trust (CBT) of Bersatu youth wing, Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada)’s funds amounting to RM1 million in year 2020.
The Member of Parliament of Muar is also facing a second count of charge on the misappropriation of RM120,000 of donation for the 14th General Assembly (GE14) for other purposes.
Syed Saddiq looked calm throughout the first proceeding before a separate proceeding was conducted on the second count of charge against him.
He nodded in understanding, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial for all charges.
The proceeding was held before Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi and the prosecution was led by the Senior Director of Legal and Prosecution Department from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah.
The accused was represented by counsels Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk S Ambiga.
According to the charge papers, Syed Saddiq was charged on his capacity as the Youth Chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu Armada), had committed CBT where he was said to have withdrew RM1 million through a cheque without the approval of Bersatu’s Leadership Council.
He allegedly committed the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Ground Floor, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral on 6 March 2020.
PIX: HAZROL ZAINAL / MalaysiaGazette / 22 JULY 2021
The charge was framed under Section 405 of the Penal Code which is punishable under Section 406 of the same code. Upon conviction, he could be imprisoned not more than 10 years, whipped and fined.
Besides that, Syed Saddiq was also charged for the misappropriation of RM120,000 donation for the 14th General Election (GE14) collected through Armada’s Maybank Islamic Berhad’s account.
He allegedly committed the offence between 8 April 2018 until 21 April 2018 at Maybank Islamic Berhad, No 16 & 16A, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya in Kuala Lumpur.
The prosecution was conducted according to Section 403 of the Penal Code which carries the sentence of six months to five years of jail or whip and fine upon conviction.
During the proceeding of the first case, the prosecution suggested a bail of RM500,000 with a surety. Besides that, they also requested for the accused to surrender his passport to the court and report to his nearest MACC office.
According to Faridz, the amount is fair as the offence is committed by an influential politician and the case should not be taken lightly.
Besides that, he also requested the court to issue an order to stop the accused from issuing any comment on the case to the media or social media platform until the case is resolved.
However, Gobind requested for a reduction in bail as his client only has a salary of RM16,000 as a Member of Parliament without any other source of income.
Besides that, he also needed time to pay for the bail through public donation.
Gobind said, other conditions such as gag-order of not speaking to the media, reporting himself to the MACC as if he would run away are unacceptable and illogical.
Azura then fixed bail at RM300,000 with a surety, his passport surrendered to the court and the accused need to report himself monthly to the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur.
The court also allowed the request to pay bail in stages with RM50,000 today and the balance to be paid latest on 27 July.
For the misappropriation of funds charge, the judge fixed bail at RM30,000 with a surety and set 10 September for the mention of the case. –MalaysiaGazette
