KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the trial of former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has been ordered by the High Court to hand over a copy of a key witness’ statement recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid made the order after agreeing with the defence that there were contradictions in the statement by former Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, the 13th prosecution witness, to the MACC in 2020 and in his oral testimony.
He said the difference in the two testimonies was also acknowledged by the prosecution.
“I instructed the prosecution to submit a copy of the recording of the witness Rafiq Hakim’s conversation for scrutiny and consideration before the next course of action (to challenge the credibility of the witness) is determined,” said the judge, according to Bernama.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shahruddin Wan Ladin then asked whether the copy of the statement should be handed over to the judge only or to be given to other parties as well.
Azhar said a copy should first be submitted to the court for scrutiny to confirm the differences found in the oral testimony and the recording of the conversation before the application to challenge the credibility of the witness could be determined.
Last Friday, Syed Saddiq had once again applied to challenge Rafiq Hakim’s credibility following several discrepancies in the testimony recorded by the MACC and his oral testimony in court over the withdrawal of RM1mil from Armada’s bank account.
According to Syed Saddiq’s lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, the discrepancy was over the time and place where his client was alleged to have instructed Rafiq Hakim and Armada assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi to withdraw the RM1mil and the purpose of a fundraising event in Muar.
Syed Saddiq, 29, as the then Armada chief who was entrusted with control of its funds, is charged with abetting Rafiq Hakim with CBT of RM1mil in funds belonging to the wing at CIMB Bank Bhd, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, here on March 6, 2020.
On the second charge, he is alleged to have misused property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, by causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking Bhd, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya here, between April 8 and 21, 2018.
The hearing before Azhar continues.