Syed Saddiq goes online to defend himself, initiates campaign for bail

KUALA LUMPUR – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman continued to engage netizens online in an effort to defend himself after he was charged with two counts of misappropriating funds this morning. 

Stating his defence against the charges, the former youth and sports minister pointed out that his former party Bersatu was deregistered when he allegedly organised a fundraiser for the party’s Youth wing in April 2018.

He has pleaded not guilty to two separate charges of misappropriating a total of RM1.12 million in funds belonging to Bersatu Youth during his tenure as chief.

During his Facebook Live session today, Syed Saddiq noted that while the charges of fund misappropriation against him allegedly happened between April 8 and 21 in 2018, his former party had been temporarily deregistered on April 3, the same year.

It was reported then that the Registrar of Societies had decided to deregister the party following its failure to submit documents and details on its 2017 annual general meeting as requested.

“When a party is suspended, the party’s bank accounts are also suspended.

“Therefore based on (common) logic and legal terms, how could there be any fundraising for a party?” he asked.

While admitting that he did hold a fundraiser, Syed Saddiq insisted it was held under his personal capacity as a candidate for the Muar parliamentary seat at that period, which included related programmes.

In addition to pleading his innocence and claiming that the charges were politically motivated, Syed Saddiq also launched a fundraising campaign to help foot the remainder of the bail imposed by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

This comes after the court allowed Syed Saddiq to post a bail of RM330,000 with one surety for both charges – RM300,000 bail for a criminal breach of trust charge and RM30,000 bail for the second charge of  misusing a RM120,000 donation for the 2018 general election campaign.

A total of RM80,000 was posted today, while the remaining sum is expected to be settled by next Tuesday.

In addition to today’s charges, Syed Saddiq is expected to face further charges in Johor Baru, with the prosecution team seeking to have them tried together at the sessions court here. – The Vibes, July 22, 2021