Just yesterday (22 July 2020), Syed Saddiq, Member of Parliament (“MP“) for Muar, was charged before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for allegedly misappropriating funds from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (“Bersatu“). The MP was charged with both criminal breach of trust and dishonest misappropriation before Judge Azura Alwi.
On the first charge, the act was alleged to have been committed on March 6th 2020, when the MP was chief of Bersatu’s youth wing, Armada. Under this charge, the MP has been accused of withdrawing RM1 million, by way of cheque, without prior authorisation from Bersatu’s supreme council. This charge was brought under Section 405 of the Penal Code which reads:
Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property either solely or jointly with any other person dishonestly misappropriates, or converts to his own use, that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfully suffers any other person so to do, commits “criminal breach of trust”.
The second charge was brought for dishonest misappropriation of donations amounting to RM120,000. These donations were allegedly raised via a bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, and were allegedly used for the 14th Malaysian General Election Campaign. He is alleged to have committed this offence back in 2018, spanning from April 8th to April 21st. This charge was brought under Section 403 of the Penal Code which reads:
Whoever dishonestly misappropriates, or converts to his own use, or causes any other person to dispose of, any property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months and not more than five years and with whipping and shall also be liable to fine.
The MP has pleaded not guilty for both counts, and the learned judge has set bail at RM330,000 with one surety. The MP was also required to surrender his passport and to report monthly to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The next mention for these cases has been fixed for September 10th 2021.
More info on this can be read at:
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/21/former-minister-to-be-charged-with-cbt-involving-rm12mil-on-thursday-july-22
- https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-syed-saddiq-muar-mp-cbt-rm1-million-bersatu-15266826
- https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-ex-minister-syed-saddiq-charged-with-criminal-breach-of-trust
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