KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24): The former information chief of Bersatu’s youth wing Armada told the High Court on Friday (Feb 24) that there was only one meeting where the wing's leadership told its former assistant treasurer to make withdrawals for assistance programmes.
Testifying as the defence's third witness in Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's criminal trial, Ulya Aqamah Husamudin said the Muar Member of Parliament had never instructed Armada's former assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali to withdraw RM1 million.
Questioned during re-examination by Syed Saddiq's counsel Tiara Katrina Fuad, Ulya also said that Syed Saddiq did not hold separate discussions with Rafiq or Armada's then assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi to make the withdrawals.
Tiara: You were asked questions about discussions between Syed Saddiq, you [and others] in early March.... The picture conveyed by those questions is that there were many discussions. You might be getting confused which discussions include what [items discussed]. Just to clarify once and for all, the discussion where it was decided that Rafiq should go to Armada's executive committee (exco) and discuss the amount needed for the [assistance programme].
Ulya: Just once.
Tiara: And at that discussion, was it just between Syed Saddiq with Rafiq and Redzuan?
Ulya: No.
Tiara: Did Syed Saddiq hold a separate discussion (perbincangan sendiri) with Rafiq and Redzuan?
Ulya: No.
One of the four charges Syed Saddiq faces in this trial is abetting Rafiq in committing criminal breach of trust over the RM1 million.
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.
Syed Saddiq along with Rafiq and Redzuan were the three designated trustees for the Armada account.
Rafiq told to discuss with exco members as they were on the ground and would know amount necessary for assistance
Ulya also testified on Friday that he, along with Syed Saddiq, Rafiq, Redzuan and then Armada deputy chief Mohd Aizad Roslan, were part of Armada's top leadership, also known as 'G5'.
Following the Sheraton move in February 2020 which eventually lead to a change in government, Ulya said they held a meeting at Syed Saddiq's home to discuss the change in federal government, the impending Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19 and the upcoming Hari Raya festive season.
They had then decided that Rafiq should discuss with the party’s respective exco to get the amount necessary for the purpose of Covid-19 assistance, Ramadan and Hari Raya programmes.
During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Ulya said there was a need for Rafiq to meet with the respective exco even after G5 had decided on the matter because the exco members were more familiar with the happenings on the ground and would be more informed of the amount necessary for the assistance.
Wan Shaharuddin: Since G5 has already decided [on the assistance], what was the need for Rafiq to meet with the exco?
Ulya: Because those who do the work on the ground are the exco. [So Rafiq was responsible] to get the feedback on how much was needed to be withdrawn.
He testified that during that meeting, the withdrawal of a specific amount was not indicated.
He also said that throughout the meeting, Syed Saddiq had never said that he was entitled to the money in Armada's account as it was his hard earned money (hasil titik peluh) and it should be used for him to gain "political mileage".
Prosecution points out Ulya's contradictory MACC statement
Ulya also testified that he had told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s officer during investigations what had transpired in the meeting and that Syed Saddiq did not instruct Rafiq to withdraw RM1 million.
However, Wan Shaharuddin then pointed out Ulya's contradictory statement given to MACC in June 2020 and his statement in court. In his statement to MACC, Ulya had said that he did not know if Syed Saddiq gave Rafiq instructions to withdraw the money.
Wan Shaharuddin then made an application to tender portions of Ulya's MACC statement as evidence in court as it was relevant to the charge.
Syed Saddiq's lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo objected to this saying that the defence had not seen the rest of the document and that the paragraphs highlighted in court did not exist in isolation.
Trial judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, however, allowed the prosecution’s application and said that both parties could make submissions at the close of the defence's case.
But during re-examination, Ulya maintained that his statement was not contradictory.
Syed Saddiq, 30, also faces one charge of misappropriation of party funds which is framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code.
The former youth and sports minister also faces two charges of engaging in money laundering activities involving two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The trial continues on March 13.