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Earlier today, 22 July, former minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court
According to a report by Malaysiakini, the charges pertains to two separate sums of money totalling RM1.24 million. The presiding judge of the case, Azura Alwi, read out both counts of CBT to the court earlier today, both of which he pleads not guilty.
In the first charge, it was alleged that Syed Saddiq misappropriated RM1.12 million of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) funds using a cheque on 6 March last year. The second charge, totalling RM120,000, was alleged to have been withdrawn by him at a bank in Taman Pandan Jaya between 8 and 21 April 2018.
After claiming trial to both counts, the judge allowed Syed Saddiq to be released on bail awaiting trial, provided he pays the full amount of RM330,000 by next Tuesday.
Syed Saddiq arriving with his lawyers at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex earlier today.
Image via Firdaus Latif/Yahoo! News
Syed Saddiq had previously served as Bersatu Youth Chief after co-founding the party, but had his membership revoked
Syed Saddiq was appointed to the position following the party’s inception in September 2016. Following the historic 14th General Election, he won a seat in Parliament representing his home constituency of Muar, Johor under the Bersatu ticket.
He was then appointed as the youngest cabinet minister in Malaysian history, serving as the Youth and Sports Minister in the Pakatan Harapan administration from May 2018 to February 2020, when the government infamously collapsed in a crisis of confidence.
He continued serving his party role into the current Perikatan Nasional government, until he was revoked of his party membership under acrimonious circumstances on 28 May 2020 after sitting with the opposition in Parliament out of protest at the change in government.
Syed Saddiq sat in Parliament as an independent after being expelled from Bersatu, before co-founding his own party, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), in September 2020.
Image via Malaysiakini
He had uploaded a 54-second clip on his Twitter yesterday, 21 July, in which he says the charges are politically motivated
In the tweet, he alleges that he had been threatened with conviction for over a year unless he joins the Perikatan Nasional government.
“Every time there is an important vote in Parliament, the threats will come,” he said, adding, “I will never sell my soul and principles to Perikatan Nasional.”
He ends the clip by saying that the truth will prevail, and that he is willing to go to court than to ever join the current government.
He says that he will be conducting a tell-all session on his social media platforms tonight at 8pm.
Berani kerana benar.It is in moments like this that i am reminded why i joined Politics.Truth will always prevail.Saya lebih rela masuk mahkamah dari masuk Perikatan Nasional.Bring it on!Jumpa di Mahkamah KL esok 8pagi & Live FB/insta 8PM untuk pendedahan saya.#Lawan pic.twitter.com/sinWaupIOp
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) July 21, 2021