MUAR lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today he had never directed Rafiq Hakim Razali and Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi to withdraw RM1 million from the Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) bank account.

The former Armada chief said he had never had separate discussions with then Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq and then Armada assistant secretary Redzuan about withdrawing the money.

“The allegations of Rafiq Hakim (13th prosecution witness) and Ahmad Redzuan (11th prosecution witness) are mere lies,” he said when reading out his witness statement on the first day of proceedings in his defence against four charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

Syed Saddiq, 30, said in early March 2020, Armada’s G5 leadership, comprising Ulya, Aizad, Rafiq, Redzuan and himself, held discussions on withdrawing money to face the Covid-19 pandemic and making preparations for Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2020, and for that, the leadership ordered Rafiq to discuss with the Armada exco to get the amount required for the aid.

He said the four were involved in discussions at all times and there was no specific mention of the withdrawal of RM1 million.

“The discussions were held in the guest hall of my house, an open space, so it was impossible for me to hold private talks with Rafiq Hakim and Ahmad Redzuan without being heard or seen by Ulya and Aizad.

“I never said the funds in Armada’s CIMB Bank account were the result of my work throughout my tenure as Armada chief,” he said, adding that the funds belonged to all Armada members for the use of the Bersatu youth wing.

On October 28 last year, Syed Saddiq was ordered to enter his defence on the four charges after the court found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him at the end of the prosecution case.

He was charged as the then Bersatu youth wing or Armada chief, who was entrusted with control of its funds, with abetting Rafiq with CBT of RM1 million in funds belonging to the wing at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, on March 6, 2020.

The Muda president was also charged with misusing RM120,000 from a Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018.

Syed Saddiq also faces two counts of engaging in money-laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

Hearing before Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid continues. – Bernama, February 22, 2023.