THE Kuala Lumpur High Court was told today Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had ordered the withdrawal of RM1 million from Bersatu’s Armada account over fears of a change in the party leadership.

Former Armada assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi, 32, said Syed Saddiq told him he had the right to use the money in the CIMB account, which he had sourced through donations.

According to the special officer to Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin, a meeting was held at Syed Saddiq’s house in Petaling Jaya, Selangor in early March 2020.

“The meeting was attended by (Armada assistant treasurer) Rafiq Hakim Razali. We discussed the change in government and Armada’s position in the government because Syed Saddiq was in the opposition bloc along with Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Syed Saddiq ordered Rafiq and I to withdraw money amounting to RM1 million from Armada’s account,” he said when reading his witness statement at the trial of Syed Saddiq, who faces four charges related to criminal breach of trust and money-laundering.

The 11th prosecution witness said Syed Saddiq mentioned the money had to be withdrawn from the account to strengthen his position as the Armada chief in the event of any internal party crisis.

Redzuan said only he and Rafiq were called by Syed Saddiq to attend the meeting because they were the trustee signatories of CIMB Bank Armada Pusat cheques and only the three of them knew about the matter. 

“Rafiq and I withdrew RM1 million from Armada’s official account on March 6, 2020 on Syed Saddiq’s instructions.

“(However), Syed Saddiq did not tell Rafiq and I whether the withdrawal was authorised by the Bersatu supreme council,” said Redzuan, who informed that Syed Saddiq had also told him the money was meant for party use.

The witness also said he had suggested to Rafiq  to keep the money at Daniel’s house because the latter had a safe.

Redzuan said Rafiq agreed to his suggestion and after the money was withdrawn from the account, Rafiq brought the money to his house before handing it to Daniel.

The witness added that he only knew that Syed Saddiq’s order was an offence after being summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on June 3, 2020 for violating clause 24 of the Bersatu Constitution.

Redzuan said according to clause 24, the treasurer-general is only allowed to keep retail cash not exceeding RM50,000 at a time and the money must be kept in a safe place in a registered office for the party’s retail expenses.

He said expenditure in excess of RM500,000 at any one time is not allowed without the prior permission of the supreme council.

“I confirm that Syed Saddiq himself cannot withdraw cash from the CIMB Bank account under the name of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Armada Pusat) without instructing Rafiq and I to do so.

“Regarding the RM1 million, although the approval was issued by Syed Saddiq to Rafiq and I to withdraw the money, it violates the ethics of withdrawing money from Armada’s account,” he said, adding that he had to abide by Syed Saddiq’s instructions given his capacity as the Armada chief and also Muar MP.

Syed Saddiq is charged as the then Armada chief – who was entrusted with control of Armada funds – with abetting Rafiq, over CBT of RM1 million in funds belonging to the wing.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

The offence, under section 406 of the penal code, carries a jail term of up to 10 years with whipping, and is liable to a fine.

For the second charge, the accused is alleged to have misused property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money.

Syed Saddiq is charged with committing the offence at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya between April 8 and 21, 2018.

The charge, under section 403 of the penal code, carries a maximum five years’ jail with whipping and is punishable by a fine.

He also faces two counts of engaging in money-laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.

Syed Saddiq is charged with committing the offence at a bank on Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

The charges were framed under section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum 15 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount or the proceeds of illegal activities.

The trial before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid continues tomorrow. – Bernama, July 4, 2022.