The apology came after deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin informed the court that defence counsel Lim Wei Jiet had issued a public statement on the case.

“The defence apologises for what happened. This will not happen again,” defence lawyer Hajian Omar told the High Court here today.

Wan Shaharuddin pointed out that this was not the first time that Syed Saddiq’s legal team had been reprimanded for commenting on the case, but said he did not wish to make a contempt application.

He cited a police report lodged against Lim on June 24, over his YouTube video in which he claimed that the charges brought against the Muda president were politically motivated.

The complainant said the lawyer’s comments could interfere with the judicial process as the trial had yet to begin at the time, adding that it amounted to sub judice.

After the apology, judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid reminded the parties to “let the evidence speak for itself”.

Syed Saddiq is a former youth and sports minister and used to lead Bersatu Youth before the Sheraton Move and the subsequent collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020.

He is on trial on four charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds and money laundering of more than RM1 million belonging to Bersatu’s youth wing.