Syed Saddiq: I never directed RM1mil Armada withdrawal

KUALA LUMPUR: Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told the High Court here that he never directed Rafiq Hakim Razali and Ahmad Redzuan Mohamed Shafi to withdraw RM1mil from the account of central Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda, the youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia that is commonly known as Armada.

The former Armada chief said he never discussed with then Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim and then Armada assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan separately from other Armada G5 leadership members to order them to withdraw the RM1mil.

“The allegations of Rafiq Hakim (13th prosecution witness) and Ahmad Redzuan (11th prosecution witness) are mere lies,” Syed Saddiq said when reading out his witness statement yesterday – the first day of proceedings in his defence against four charges of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets and money laundering.

Syed Saddiq, 30, reported Bernama, said that in early March 2020, the G5 leadership held discussions on withdrawing money to face the Covid-19 pandemic and making preparations for Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2020, and for that, the G5 leadership ordered Rafiq Hakim to discuss with the Armada exco to get the amount required for extending the aid.

According to him, Ulya, Aizad, Rafiq Hakim and Ahmad Redzuan were involved in the discussions at all times and there was no specific mention of the RM1mil.

“The discussions were held in the guest hall of my house, an open space, so it was impossible for me to hold private talks with Rafiq Hakim and Ahmad Redzuan without being heard or seen by Ulya and Aizad.

“I never said the funds in Armada’s CIMB Bank account were the result of my work throughout my tenure as Armada chief,” he said.

He added that the funds belonged to all Armada members for the use of Armada.

On Oct 28 last year, Syed Saddiq was ordered to enter his defence on the four charges after the court found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him at the end of the prosecution’s case.

Johor Baru-born Syed Saddiq was charged as the then Armada chief who was entrusted with control of its funds, with abetting Rafiq Hakim with CBT of RM1mil belonging to the wing at Menara CIMB KL Sentral here on March 6, 2020.

Syed Saddiq, now the MUDA president, was also charged with misusing RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise, for himself 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.

He also faces two counts of engaging in money-laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 each believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling, Johor Baru, on June 16 and 19, 2018.

Hearing before Justice Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid continues.