KUALA LUMPUR — Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was acquitted and discharged today by the Court of Appeal from all four criminal charges involving the misappropriation of funds from Bersatu youth wing, Armada, dating back to 2018.
The three-member panel led by Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, alongside Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, unanimously allowed Syed Saddiq’s appeal to overturn his convictions and the sentence imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Sinar Harian reported.
The charges had involved criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1 million, misappropriation of RM120,000, and two counts of money laundering involving RM50,000 each.
Following the verdict, Syed Saddiq, 33, who was dressed in a black blazer, was visibly emotional and covered his face upon hearing the court’s decision.
The Johor Bahru native later embraced his parents, while local singer Bella Astillah was present at the court.
Reading out the judgement, Justice Noorin said the prosecution had failed to prove dishonest intent in the CBT charge.
“The prosecution failed to establish any dishonest intention on the part of Syed Saddiq when he directed the withdrawal of the RM1 million from Armada’s funds,” she said.
She added that simply instructing the withdrawal of funds did not amount to disposal of property.
“Therefore, the appellant, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, is hereby acquitted and discharged of all four convictions and the sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine,” she said.
Noorin also said the lower court had erred by failing to properly assess the evidence and the legal elements necessary to establish the charges against Syed Saddiq, according to the NST.
“The act of telling, instructing, or ordering someone to withdraw money cannot be considered as disposal of the money.
The act of withdrawing the money itself does not satisfy the element of actus reus (the physical act of a crime),” she said.
The acquittal follows a previous ruling by Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid on November 9, 2023, where Syed Saddiq was convicted and sentenced to seven years’ jail, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 million fine for all four charges.
In appealing the decision, Syed Saddiq filed an 18-ground petition to set aside both the convictions and sentences.
The first charge accused him of abetting former Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with RM1 million in party funds, in committing CBT by misusing the amount.
The offence allegedly took place at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail, whipping, and a fine.
In the second charge, Syed Saddiq was accused of misappropriating RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic account of Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for personal use.
This was said to have occurred between April 8 and 21, 2018, at Malayan Banking Berhad in Taman Pandan Jaya, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which also provides for up to five years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine.
He was also charged under the Anti-Money Laundering Act for transferring RM50,000 each on two occasions from his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which was alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
These transactions were said to have taken place on June 16 and 19, 2018, at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru.
The charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – June 25, 2025