“I am aware of my current situation, and that is why I am considering what I want to do regarding my status as Muda president,” the former youth and sports minister told reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
“We will have a party meeting to discuss this at 4pm, and I will announce not only my decision but also our collective decision at 5pm.”
Earlier today, the Muar MP was sentenced to seven years jail, two strokes of the rotan and a RM10 million fine after being convicted of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.
Despite the verdict, Syed Saddiq said he respects the court’s decision and maintains his faith in the justice system.
He said he felt he had a strong case to clear his name in the Court of Appeal.
Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid allowed an application by the defence to stay the jail, fine and whipping sentence pending an appeal.
Lead counsel Gobind Singh Deo said Syed Saddiq had maintained his innocence from the start and that an appeal will be filed on behalf of the Muar MP today.
He said they will also apply for an early date to be set by the Court of Appeal.
“We hope that in the nearest possible time, after we file the appeal, we can get a date to attend proceedings at the Court of Appeal, where we will present the reasons for our continued stance that no foul play has occurred,” he said.
Syed Saddiq was convicted of abetting the Bersatu Youth wing’s former assistant treasurer, Rafiq Hakim, in the commission of CBT of RM1 million at CIMB Bank Bhd at Menara CIMB KL Sentral on March 6, 2020.
Syed Saddiq had been entrusted with control of the funds as the then Bersatu Youth chief.
He was also found to have misused RM120,000 from the bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd in Taman Pandan Jaya here between April 8 and 21, 2018.
The second-term MP was also convicted on two counts of money laundering involving proceeds from unlawful activities of RM50,000 each transferred from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account at a bank in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.
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