MUAR MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was found guilty today of four charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property, and laundering Bersatu funds.

The court is now hearing Syed Saddiq’s mitigation plea and the submissions of the prosecution and defence on sentencing before the final judgment.

Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid said the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt.

“As such he is guilty of all four charges.”

The defence closed its case on March 14 after calling Syed Saddiq and three other witnesses – Armada information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin, the accused’s former special officer Mohamed Amshar Aziz, and former private secretary Siti Nurul Hidayah.

Thirty prosecution witnesses testified in the trial, which started on June 21, 2022.

They included Syed Saddiq’s father Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Alsagoff, his mother Shariffah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz, former Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officers Nurul Hidayah Kamarudin, Syahmeizy Sulong, and Asbi Munip.

The case was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Wan Shaharudin Wan Ladin and Mohd Afif Ali while lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Haijan Omar represented Syed Saddiq.

On October 28, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Syed Saddiq to present his defence after the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against him.

He has been found guilty of two counts of money laundering, involving transactions of RM50,000 each, believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities.

The charges were framed under section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, upon conviction.

Syed Saddiq was charged in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court with the CBT and misappropriation of assets charges, and in the Johor Baru sessions court with the other two money laundering charges.

The Johor Baru sessions court had allowed the prosecution’s request to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur sessions court for a joint trial of all four charges.

On November 25, 2021, Syed Saddiq was allowed to transfer the case from the sessions court to the High Court. – November 9, 2023.