MUAR Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman arrived at the Palace of Justice on Monday morning as the Federal Court prepares to deliver its final decision on the prosecution's appeal against his acquittal in a case involving funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (ARMADA).
Syed Saddiq arrived at about 8.55 am to attend proceedings before the Federal Court, which is expected to determine whether the Court of Appeal's decision to discharge and acquit him of four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misuse of property and money laundering will be upheld.
The final verdict was initially scheduled to be delivered on 30 June but was postponed after one of the three judges on the panel, Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, took medical leave.
The decision will determine whether Syed Saddiq remains acquitted or whether the prosecution succeeds in restoring the High Court's earlier conviction and sentence.
Earlier, Syed Saddiq's fiancée, actress and singer Bella Astillah, arrived at the Palace of Justice at about 7.25am. to offer her support.
The 32-year-old entertainer, whose full name is Dayang Ara Nabellah Awang Astillah, arrived wearing a greyish-white baju kurung and briefly asked the public to pray for a favourable outcome.
"Pray," she said when approached by reporters.
Syed Saddiq's parents, Sharifah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdul Rahman Al-Sagoff, also arrived shortly after at about 7.30 a.m.
Sharifah Mahani, who appeared emotional, expressed hope that the Federal Court's decision would be in her son's favour.
"God willing, may Allah SWT help him by granting him victory today," she said.
The three-member Federal Court panel comprising Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah is scheduled to deliver the judgment at 9 a.m.
The prosecution's final appeal was heard over two days, with submissions completed before the panel on 12 December 2025.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan are representing the prosecution, while Syed Saddiq is represented by senior counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.
The prosecution is seeking to overturn the Court of Appeal's acquittal and reinstate the High Court's earlier ruling, which sentenced Syed Saddiq to seven years' imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine.
The charges involve 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 faces 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
