Federal Court upholds Syed Saddiq’s acquittal on RM1 million Armada fund misappropriation charges in a 2-1 majority decision
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court today 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.
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.
