PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court on Monday upheld the acquittal of Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on four charges of abetment of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering involving funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada).
In a 2-1 majority, Justice Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, together with Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, dismissed the prosecution's final appeal to reinstate the conviction and sentence against Syed Saddiq, 33, while Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the panel, dissented.
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On June 25, 2025, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged Syed Saddiq after allowing his appeal to set aside the conviction and sentence of seven years' imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a fine of RM10 million imposed by the High Court on Nov 9, 2023.
The following day, the Attorney General's Chambers filed an appeal to the Federal Court.
Syed Saddiq was charged with abetting former Armada Assistant Treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali to commit criminal breach of trust against Armada funds amounting to RM1 million at CIMB Bank Berhad, KL Sentral on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment, caning and a fine.
He was also charged with misusing RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of between six months and five years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Syed Saddiq was also charged with two counts of money laundering involving transfers of RM50,000 each into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.
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 carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved, upon conviction.
The three Court of Appeal judges delivered their judgments separately today, beginning with Justice Abu Bakar, followed by Justice Che Mohd Ruzima and Justice Sequerah.
After all three judges had concluded their judgments, Justice Abu Bakar invited Syed Saddiq to approach the bench to explain the court's decision.
He said the conviction and sentence he had proposed on the second, third and fourth charges were no longer effective because the other two judges had found the respondent not guilty on all four charges.
"That is their prerogative as judges within our justice system. I would also like to point out that although we are judges, we are ordinary human beings. There are times when we are healthy and times when we are unwell.
"When a judge is unwell, the postponement of proceedings may occur. It is neither unusual nor unprecedented. I hope all parties will understand this," he said.
The Court of Appeal had initially scheduled its decision on the prosecution's final appeal for June 30, but the ruling was postponed after Justice Che Mohd Ruzima went on medical leave.
Meanwhile, Justice Abu Bakar said the panel was aware of developments surrounding the case and understood that the respondent had plans following the delivery of the judgment.
"Now that the majority has ruled in the respondent's favour, I hope he will be able to proceed with those plans in the best possible way," he said.
Justice Che Mohd Ruzima, meanwhile, reminded all parties that judges cannot publicly defend themselves or respond to comments made about them, and urged stakeholders to refrain from making inappropriate statements.
"In this case, the decision was in fact ready to be delivered. However, when all three judges were required to prepare their respective grounds of judgment and one of them fell ill, was it appropriate to describe the situation as 'unprecedented'?
"As judges, we cannot respond to every public perception or defend ourselves in the public arena. Therefore, all stakeholders must carry out their respective responsibilities responsibly. I would also like to thank the Head of the Prosecution Division, Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, for maintaining a neutral position and for extending his well wishes to the unwell judge," he said.
The courtroom erupted in applause from Syed Saddiq's family members and supporters after the three judges concluded the delivery of their judgments.
