Syed Saddiq (left) arriving in court for his trial on July 4. – Bernamapic
KUALA LUMPUR: The former exco of the Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), told the High Court here that he was not lying when testifying against Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
He said he was instead afraid of being charged in court for another case.
Abdul Hannaan Khairy, 29, said his testimony that the Muar MP had asked him to “backdate” the quotation date and receipt amounting to RM250,000 in relation to the Armada souvenir was true.
He said he did not, however, remember the exact “backdated” date.
“I was not lying but I was afraid of being charged in court,” he said during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin at the trial yesterday.
Syed Saddiq is facing four charges related to criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering.
According to Bernama, the 10th prosecution witness said he would not have asked Muhammad Naqib Ab Rahim, who was then a member of Bersatu, to “backdate” the dates on the two documents if Syed Saddiq had not asked him to do so.
Earlier, during cross-examination by Syed Saddiq’s counsel Gobind Singh Deo, the witness admitted that he feared testifying in court.
Gobind: Why are you afraid? Has the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) asked you about other cases?
Abdul Hannaan: Yes.
Gobind: You are afraid of being accused of other cases?
Abdul Hannan: Yes.
Gobind: You are willing to testify (in court). In return, you’re not charged in another case.
Abdul Hannaan: Your Honour, can I go to the toilet?
After hearing the witness’ request, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid asked Abdul Hannan to first answer the question from the lawyer and the witness replied: “Yes.”
Abdul Hannaan, who is now Serius Kool Media Sdn Bhd editor, said he was arrested by MACC on June 4, 2020, after receiving a phone call from Muhammad Saufi Yusof to pick him up from the MACC headquarters, Putrajaya.
“I left Southville City at 11pm to fetch him (Muhammad Saufi) and arrived there (Putrajaya MACC) around midnight.
“When I entered the MACC lobby, I couldn’t call him and waited for Saufi to come out.
“While I was waiting in the car, suddenly two or three MACC men ran towards me and asked me to get out of the car,” he said.
Asked by Gobind on the reason for his arrest by the MACC, the witness replied: “In relation to the loss of RM250,000.”
According to Abdul Hannaan, he was also questioned about a Volkswagen car he had bought in early 2020.
He was worried that action would be taken by the MACC regarding the purchase.
He said the car was returned to him after it was kept for a year by the MACC.
The witness said he was also disappointed with the treatment given by the MACC officers during his wife’s interrogation, whom he claimed was insulted with abusive words, adding that a police report was lodged to protect himself from being threatened by outsiders.
Syed Saddiq, 29, is charged as the then Bersatu’s youth wing or Armada chief – who was entrusted with control of Armada funds – of abetting Rafiq Hakim Razali, Armada’s assistant treasurer at the time, with CBT of RM1mil in funds belonging to the wing.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, here on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years with whipping, and also punishable by a fine, if found guilty.
For the second charge, he is 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 said to have committed the offence at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya here, between April 8 and 21, 2018, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum jail term of six months and a maximum of five years with whipping, and is punishable by a fine, if convicted.
He also faces two counts of engaging in money laundering activities, 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.
He is accused of committing the offence at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.
The trial before Azhar continues today.
