Malaysia’s Former Youth Minister Sentenced to 7 Years in Jail Over Embezzlement Charges
Kuala Lumpur - A Kuala Lumpur court has found former Malaysian minister and Muda movement leader Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman guilty of embezzling over US$200,000 in funds from a political party. The 31-year-old politician was sentenced to seven years in jail and two lashes of the whip.
Charges and Sentencing
Syed Saddiq was accused of abetting a subordinate to withdraw RM1 million (US$213,538) from the Bersatu party’s account. He was also found guilty of misappropriating RM120,000 (US$25,650) from another party-affiliated account to fund his election campaign.
The High Court judge, Azhar Abdul Hamid, ruled that Syed Saddiq had failed to raise reasonable doubt over the allegations and therefore “the court finds the accused guilty of all charges”. The court also imposed a fine of RM10 million (US$2.1 million) on the former minister.
Reactions and Impact
Syed Saddiq was granted a stay of sentencing while he mounts an appeal, but his lawyers have vowed to challenge the conviction, maintaining that the allegations against him are politically motivated.
The case has sparked widespread outrage in Malaysia, where corruption is rampant among politicians. Syed Saddiq’s conviction joins a growing list of high-profile cases involving embezzlement and abuse of power by Malaysian politicians.
Background and Future Prospects
As leader of Muda, a youth-centric party founded after his sacking from Bersatu in 2020, Syed Saddiq has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s political scene. However, his party has struggled to make electoral gains, and he faces an uncertain future following yesterday’s verdict.
Key Points
- Syed Saddiq was found guilty of embezzling over US$200,000 in funds from a political party
- He was sentenced to seven years in jail and two lashes of the whip
- The court also imposed a fine of RM10 million (US$2.1 million) on the former minister
- Syed Saddiq’s conviction is seen as part of a growing trend of high-profile cases involving corruption among Malaysian politicians