THE STAR – The Malaysian High Court was told yesterday that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had instructed that the MYR1 million withdrawn from Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) account be distributed among party wing exco members, a day after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigated and searched his residence in Petaling Jaya in March 2020.
MACC investigating officer Mohd Syahmeizy Sulong, 37, said the money withdrawn on March 6, 2020 was in the control of assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali of Armada, the youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and no transactions were made during that period before it was distributed on April 1, 2020.
“The money was kept at Rafiq Hakim’s house before it was distributed to Federal Territory Bersatu Youth Information Chief Muhammad Daniel Kusari and party member then Muhammad Naqib Ab Rahim,” he said during examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Asyraf Mohamed Tahir at the trial of the Muar Member of Parliament (MP), who faces four charges related to criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering.
Asked why the MYR1 million was distributed all of a sudden to Muhammad Daniel and Muhammad Naqib, the witness replied: The money was distributed after the MACC started investigating and searching Syed Saddiq’s house on March 31, 2020.
Mohd Syahmeizy, who investigated the case involving the misappropriation of Armada funds, said based on witness statements, the money was withdrawn by two Armada trustees, Rafiq Hakim and Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi, who was the Armada assistant secretary on Syed Saddiq’s instructions.
According to the MACC senior superintendent, the cheques were signed by Rafiq Hakim and Ahmad Redzuan because Syed Saddiq had no time to visit the bank, besides the fact that his signature changed frequently.
The 25th prosecution witness said investigations also revealed that on March 31, 2020, the accused had contacted Rafiq Hakim and instructed him to ‘clear’ the money kept in his (Rafiq Hakim) house as he (Syed Saddiq) was worried that the cash would be seized by the MACC.
