MUAR Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was acquitted by the Federal Court today, in a case involving funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada).
In a 2-1 majority decision, two judges, Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, opined that Syed Saddiq should be released and acquitted.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the three-judge panel, was the only judge to dissent when he found the former Youth and Sports Minister guilty.
The majority decision thus saw the prosecution's final appeal dismissed, in addition to acquitting the former Muda President of the conviction and sentence of seven years' imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a fine of RM10 million imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in November 2023.
The decision brought an end to the former 33-year-old Muda President's lengthy legal struggle, which had been ongoing for several years.
The decision was later followed by applause from Syed Saddiq's family members and supporters.
The charges involved allegations that Syed Saddiq abetted former Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM1 million belonging to Armada at CIMB Bank Berhad, KL Sentral, on 6 March 2020.
He also faced a charge of dishonestly misappropriating RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, as well as two money laundering charges involving an alleged transfer of RM50,000 into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) account.
The charges were filed under Section 406 and Section 403 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carry substantial penalties upon conviction. - July 13, 2026
