KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 18): Former solicitor general Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden will be appearing as lead counsel for Muar Member of Paliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's appeal over his conviction and sentence in his criminal trial.
News portal Free Malaysia Today said Yusof Zainal will be assisted by lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik.
When contacted, Hisyam confirmed the report. The Edge has reached out to Yusof for comments.
The politician is waiting for his appeal records to be prepared, before he goes ahead with challenging the court's decision.
The Court of Appeal has subsequently set another case management date for the matter: March 15. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd ‘Afif Ali, who appeared for the respondents during case management on Thursday (Jan 18), confirmed this with The Edge when contacted.
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) co-founder also has a new firm representing him in his appeal, as Messrs Wong Kian Kheong takes over from Messrs Gobind Singh Deo & Co, who handled the case at the High Court.
In criminal appeals, the court registry prepares and delivers to parties the appeal records, which would contain the notes of evidence, exhibits and grounds of judgement.
It is common practice for the court to prepare the appeal records in about eight weeks. The record is needed in order for parties to file their grounds of appeal.
In Syed Saddiq's case, the notice of appeal was filed on Nov 9, the same day the High Court found the young politician guilty of all four charges involving misappropriation of more than RM1 million belonging to Armada, the youth wing of his former party Bersatu.
High Court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid also sentenced the former youth and sports minister to a total of seven years in prison, two strokes of the cane, and a fine of RM10 million.
A stay of execution was granted pending the disposal of his appeal. He also remains the Muar MP until his appeal process is exhausted.
It is believed that Syed Saddiq is the first MP in Malaysia under 50 years old to be sentenced with caning after being convicted of a white-collar crime.
He subsequently stepped down as Muda party president following the High Court verdict.
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