Syed Saddiq maintains not guilty plea for money laundering

10 Sept 2021

By Ilona Andrew

KUALA LUMPUR: Ex-youth chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has today maintained his not guilty plea against two counts of money laundering charges involving RM100,000.

According to a report by Malay Mail, the charges were read out to the former Youth and Sports Minister before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin at the Sessions Court here.

Initially, he pleaded not guilty to the charges when read out for the first time at the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru on Aug 5 before transferring the charges to the court here.

Saddiq was charged with engaging in money laundering activities by transferring RM50,000 on each transaction, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. on June 16 and June 19, 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which is punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same act, providing maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of proceeds of illegal activities.

He was also arraigned on July 22 in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today on charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and misappropriation of over RM1.2 million from his former political party.

He was accused of withdrawing the sum of RM1 million on March 6 last year from the youth wing account without approvals from party chiefs.

The charge is framed under Section 405 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 406 of the same law, provides imprisonment for up to 10 years with whipping and is liable with a fine if found guilty.

Judge Suzana fixed Nov 30 for case mention as an application to transfer the two cases to the High Court will be heard on Nov 25.