Syed Saddiq’s Fate to Be Known on Tuesday: Whether He Remains Free or Heads to Prison
PUTRAJAYA – The fate of Muar Member of Parliament, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, in four cases of conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering (AMLA) will be determined by the Federal Court here next Tuesday.
The much-anticipated decision will determine whether the 34-year-old former Youth and Sports Minister remains free or is once again convicted and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a fine of RM10 million.
A panel of three judges led by Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, together with Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, will deliver the decision after hearing submissions from both parties previously.
This proceeding is the final avenue of appeal for the prosecution as the appellant, while Syed Saddiq is the respondent.
If the panel allows the prosecution’s appeal, the former Bersatu Armada chief will be convicted again on all four charges and taken to prison to serve the sentence imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in November 2023.
If the panel takes a different approach by dismissing the appeal, Syed Saddiq will enjoy the acquittal decided by the Court of Appeal last year.
Throughout the appeal proceedings, the prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, while Syed Saddiq was represented by counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.
Under the first charge, Syed Saddiq was charged with conspiring with Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was then the Assistant Treasurer of Armada, who was entrusted with funds amounting to RM1 million, to commit criminal breach of trust by misappropriating the funds.
The act was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur, on 6 March 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, whipping and a fine, if found guilty.
For the second charge, the politician was charged with misappropriating property for his own benefit, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Berhad account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise (ABBE) by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money.
Syed Saddiq was charged with committing the act at Malayan Banking Berhad, Taman Pandan Jaya here, between 8 and 21 April 2018, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years, whipping and a fine.
Syed Saddiq also faces two charges of money laundering involving the transfer of RM50,000 each from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which was proceeds from unlawful activities.
The offences were allegedly committed at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on 16 and 19 June 2018.
The prosecution was brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, Syed Saddiq faces a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of five times the amount or value of the proceeds of unlawful activities.
On 9 November 2023, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid sentenced the politician to seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a fine of RM10 million after finding him guilty on all four charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering related to Armada funds.
In a 22-page judgment, the court dismissed Syed Saddiq’s defence while describing his testimony as “unreasonable”.
The High Court granted Syed Saddiq’s application to stay the execution of the sentence pending the disposal of his appeal at the Court of Appeal.
However, on 25 June 2025, the Johor Bahru native was fortunate when the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged him of the conviction and sentence.
A panel of three judges led by Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, sitting together with Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, unanimously held that the act of instructing someone to withdraw money could not be considered as disposing of funds.
At the final appeal on 12 December 2025, in an unprecedented situation, the Federal Court panel surprised everyone by giving the prosecution time to reassess its appeal regarding the decision that acquitted Syed Saddiq.
Abu Bakar gave the prosecution a week to re-examine the appeal and expressed hope that the prosecution would discuss and proceed with the appeal if it was still able to prove the case.
The prosecution also needed to inform the court if it felt the case was not strong enough after conducting its review.
However, the prosecution took the stance of proceeding with the appeal, as stated in a letter six days later.
The letter stated that after the prosecution obtained further views and instructions from the Attorney General, Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar directed the appeal to proceed and that any court decision would be accepted.
Sinar Harian