The Federal Court of Malaysia has officially upheld the acquittal of Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, effectively ending a high-profile legal battle that spanned six years. In a 2-1 majority decision delivered on Monday, the apex court dismissed the prosecution's final appeal against a previous Court of Appeal ruling that had cleared the former youth and sports minister of all charges. The case centered on allegations of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property, and money laundering involving RM1 million in funds from Armada, the youth wing of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
Justices Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Collin Lawrence Sequerah formed the majority, affirming that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court clarified that the mere withdrawal of funds from the party's account did not constitute criminal breach of trust. Furthermore, the judges noted that breaches of internal party rules, such as those regarding withdrawal approvals, are administrative matters rather than criminal offenses under the Penal Code. Consequently, the court found no appealable error in the lower court's decision to acquit the politician.
Court of Appeal President Justice Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the three-person panel, issued a dissenting judgment. He argued that the accused should have been convicted on three of the four charges. However, he acknowledged that his view did not prevail and that the proposed convictions and sentences were rendered immaterial by the majority's ruling. With the final legal hurdle cleared, Syed Saddiq remains a free man and continues his duties as an elected representative in Parliament.