Syed Saddiq maintains his not guilty plea

The defense, being led by Lawyer Haijan Omar, representing Syed Saddiq had submitted a motion to transfer the cases from the Sessions Court to the High Court, which will be heard by judge Mohamed Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, a Muar MP, pled not guilty to two counts of money laundering involving RM100,000.

It was read to him again before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin after which he made the plea.

Zaini Mazlan on November 25.

Suzana then scheduled November 30 for mention.

The 29-year-old Syed Saddiq pled not guilty to the allegations when they were originally read out last August 5 in Johor Baru Sessions Court, and the prosecution requested that the matter be moved to the Sessions Court which judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail approved.

Syed Saddiq was accused of money laundering for moving RM50,000 from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account on each transaction which was alleged to have come from unlawful activities.

He was claimed to have done the offense between June 16 and June 19, 2018 at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru.

The accusations were brought according to Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount or proceeds of unlawful activities.

In another Sessions Court, judge Azura Alwi scheduled the same day (November 30) for the mention of two more charges against Syed Saddiq, including criminal breach of trust (CBT) and misappropriation of funds.

He told reporters that the defense had also requested a transfer to the High Court, which will be heard on November 25 by Mohamed Zaini.

Syed Saddiq was accused of taking RM1 million from the Armada fund without the approval of the party’s (Bersatu) Supreme Council through a CIMB Bank Berhad check without the consent of the party’s (Bersatu) Supreme Council.

On March 6, 2020, he allegedly did the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2.

The charge, established under Section 405 of the Penal Code, is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment with whipping and a fine.

Mr Syed Saddiq is also accused of misusing RM120,000 collected for the GE14 campaign by Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise.

Between April 8 and 21, 2018, at Maybank Islamic Berhad, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya.If convicted, he faces up to five years in jail and a fine under Section 403 of the Penal Code.