KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 23): Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman once again told the court on Thursday (Feb 23) that the charges he faces in his criminal trial is a result of not supporting then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Testifying for the second day as the defence’s first witness in his trial, Syed Saddiq repeated his statement on a conversation he had with a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer (IO) who had indicated that the anti-graft agency was a "political tool" whenever there was a change in government and that he was a political victim.
Syed Saddiq's lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo had asked his client during re-examination if the sworn statement he made in court regarding the charges he faces is true. To this, the Muar MP answered in the affirmative and stood by his statement, adding that he clearly remembered the circumstances of the conversation.
Gobind: In your sworn statement, my learned friends challenged you and said your statement was an afterthought. Is your statement made in court regarding the charges you face in court true?
Syed Saddiq: It is the truth, Yang Arif. Until today, I remember the moment it transpired, what was discussed, where and what happened after, because what happened was clearly wrong, and I wouldn't wish that on my political enemies to go through the same.
Gobind: When you say what happened was clearly wrong what do you mean?
Syed Saddiq: Demand (permintaan) to support Muhyiddin Yassin although I have nothing personal against him, Yang Arif. But that will stop the prosecution. It is just wrong, Yang Arif. To be told that by the IO of my case, raid of my house. He was with me every day, Yang Arif [when I was investigated by MACC] .... For him to say MACC is a political tool when the government changes and that I was a political victim, it is not right. If anything I hope this will be corrected, Yang Arif.
Gobind: What is referred to as wrong is the demand to support Muhyiddin Yassin, if not charges will be brought against you. That is what you are saying? As far as you are concerned that is wrong?
Syed Saddiq: Betul Yang Arif. That is wrong Yang Arif.
While on the stand on Wednesday, the former youth and sports minister had read out parts of a recorded conversation that he claimed he had with an MACC IO — only identified as 'Ihsan' — in which he claimed that the IO had relayed that the anti-graft body became a "tool" whenever there was a change in government. Per the transcript read out in court, Syed Saddiq said he did not follow the government of the day that was helmed by Muhyiddin because Syed Saddiq was a principled politician.
The audio recording from which the transcript was taken was, however, not played in court.
In this trial, Syed Saddiq faces four charges in total in relation to more than RM1 million linked to Bersatu’s youth wing Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada), which he used to helm before being fired from the party in May 2020.
He faces one charge of abetting Armada's former assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing criminal breach of trust (CBT), one charge of misappropriation of party funds, and two money laundering charges.
While on the stand on Wednesday, Syed Saddiq also said that following MACC’s investigations on him, his friends were also threatened so that they could provide the statement desired by the MACC, he said, adding they had also made police reports on this.
He said that he had also written to former MACC chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who was the National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) director general at the time, regarding the harassment.
Syed Saddiq added that the charges against him were a form of "political vengeance" based on his conversation with the IO coupled with the manner in which the investigations were conducted which included the harassment faced.
RM100,000 in money laundering charges not from fundraising events but own money
While on the stand on Thursday, the current Malaysian United Democratic Alliance president also said the RM100,000 transferred to his ASB account was his own money which he had earned and nothing to do with the two fundraising events for his campaign for the Muar parliamentary seat during the 14th general election.
The funds transferred in two transactions in June 2018 are at the centre of the two money laundering charges he faces in this trial.
During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Asraf Mohamed Tahir, Syed Saddiq disagreed that the source of the RM100,000 was from the fundraising events.
Muhammad Asraf: I put it to you that the money that went into your ASB account from your personal Maybank account was partly from the fundraising events.
Syed Saddiq: That is not correct.
When asked if he had informed anyone about the transfer, he replied in the negative saying that there was no need to inform anyone because it was "100%" his own money and was not to be used for his political campaign.
Muhammad Asraf: I say to you that you didn't inform anyone because you know that money was suppose to be used for the political campaign [of the Muar parliamentary seat].
Syed Saddiq: I didn't inform anyone because that is 100% my money.
The two charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which are punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, with a maximum jail term of 15 years, and a fine of not less than five times the amount involved.
Syed Saddiq, 30, is also charged with abetting Rafiq in committing CBT involving RM1 million of party funds in March 2020. The charge is framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code and he faces a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine.
He is also charged with misusing RM120,000 of party contributions belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise (ABBE) in April 2018. ABBE is a company set up to generate income for Bersatu's youth wing Armada through merchandise sales.
This charge is framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, and Syed Saddiq faces a jail term of up to five years, whipping and a fine.
Following the re-examination, Syed Saddiq was released from the stand.
The trial before High Court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid continues on Friday (Feb 24).