Discrepancies in key prosecution witness’ statements
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today agreed that there are discrepancies in statements given by a key prosecution witness in Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s misappropriation and money laundering trial.
High Court Judicial Commission Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said the defence counsel had proven there were contradicting statements given by former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali based on the defence’s impeachment application submitted last week.
Azhar, therefore, ordered the prosecution counsel to submit a copy of the witness’s MACC statement given during its investigation in 2020, for the court to examine and deliberate on before proceeding to the next course of action.
This is the second attempt by Syed Saddiq’s counsel to impeach Rafiq, after his first attempt to challenge the latter’s credibility failed on July 18.
Syed Saddiq is charged, as then Armada chief entrusted with control of Armada funds, with abetting Rafiq with criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1 million of the organisation’s funds.
He is accused of committing the offence at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, here on March 6, 2020.
The Muar member of parliament is also charged with misusing property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money.
He is facing two counts of engaging in money laundering, namely two transactions of RM50,000, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.
Syed Saddiq is accused of committing the offence at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018. The trial continues.
NST
