Tearful former Malaysian minister Syed Saddiq thankful after corruption charges quashed
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Malaysia's Court of Appeal on June 25 acquitted Mr Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman in a RM1.2 million (S$360,000) graft case involving funds from Armada Bersatu.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Follow topic:
PUTRAJAYA - Former Malaysian minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman breathed a sigh of relief after five challenging years as his conviction and sentence over multiple corruption charges came to an end
The tearful Muar MP, accompanied by his parents and family members, performed prayers of gratitude after emerging from the Court of Appeal.
The court on June 25 acquitted Mr Syed Saddiq in a RM1.2 million (S$360,000) graft case involving funds from Armada Bersatu.
He said that after enduring years of adversity, blackmail and bribery, he felt a deep sense of gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to serving the public and staying true to his principles. “I don’t regret anything and I am not afraid to go through it all again. In the end, it is worth it,” he said.
Asked about his future plans, the former youth and sports minister said he would take some time to spend with his family.
On whether he would rejoin the leadership of his youth-based party Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, he said it was up to the party to decide.
Mr Syed Saddiq was also previously chief of Armada, the youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Mr Syed Saddiq’s legal team, lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said they were grateful to the learned judges for the verdict and appreciated the court’s consideration of their arguments.
“We canvassed two points: first, that there was no prima facie case, and second, that the High Court judge did not appreciate the advanced defence by YB (Syed Saddiq). The Court accepted and appreciated our submissions.
“On the first charge, the court found no evidence of dishonest intention on the part of YB. The RM1 million was channelled for party programmes, and not a single sen went into his pocket.
“As for the second charge, the court accepted that the money belonged to YB, so there was no criminal misappropriation. The charges did not stand.”
He added: “Alhamdulillah for the decision by the Court of Appeal – justice has been served. There were many appealable errors in terms of facts and law, and the court went through the various errors present during the course of the proceedings and in the judgments.”
Datuk Hisyam also expressed appreciation to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and prominent Malaysian lawyer and human rights advocate Ambiga Sreenevasan, who were part of the legal team representing Mr Syed Saddiq at the High Court.
A three-judge panel chaired by Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim unanimously allowed Mr Syed Saddiq’s appeal against his conviction and sentencing after finding that the trial judge had committed errors warranting appellate intervention.
The other judges on the panel were Justices Azman Abdullah and Noorin Badaruddin. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
