'So… when's the wedding?' – Syed Saddiq, Bella shut down rumours after former's appeal victory
Singer Bella Astillah, when met outside the Court of Appeal politely shut down any speculation about future wedding bells.
The Court of Appeal today acquitted and discharged Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (centre) of four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds from Armada. - Photo by Bernama
PUTRAJAYA – The question on everyone's lips the moment Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman walked out of the courtroom a free man was not about politics or his appeal, but: "When are Syed Saddiq and Bella getting married?"
Singer Bella Astillah, when met outside the Court of Appeal politely shut down any speculation about future wedding bells.
"As a woman, it's not appropriate for me to share any plans, especially on something this personal. I don't think it's nice to speak about such things openly," Bella said in response to the question by the media.
Still, Bella took the opportunity to thank supporters, especially fans of her and Syed Saddiq's fandom group, BASS. The Court of Appeal today acquitted and discharged Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (left) of four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds from Armada. - Photo by Bernama
"Thank you to all the BASS fans for the incredible support, your Yasin recitations and all the words of encouragement. It means a lot," she said.
Meanwhile, responding to the question, Syed Saddiq said there has been no planning at all, putting the rumour mill back on pause, at least for now.
Earlier the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged the former youth and sports minister of four criminal charges including abetting in criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering involving funds from Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda, the youth wing of his former party, Bersatu.
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Focus Malaysia
2 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Appeals Court acquits Syed Saddiq of CBT, misappropriation, money laundering charges
THE Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of four charges involving criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds from Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada). A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed Syed Saddiq's appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence of seven years' jail, two strokes of the cane, and a RM10 mil fine imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 9, 2023. 'We find that the prosecution failed to prove the abetment charge against the appellant (Syed Saddiq). 'The evidence presented was not credible and did not support the misappropriation charge under Section 403. Additionally, the money laundering charges under AMLA could not be sustained. 'Therefore, the appellant is acquitted and discharged of all charges,' said Justice Noorin, who read out the unanimous decision. Syed Saddiq, 32, had been accused of abetting Armada's former assistant treasurer, Rafiq Hakim Razali, in committing criminal breach of trust involving RM1 mil. The alleged offence was said to have occurred at CIMB Bank Berhad, Menara CIMB KL Sentral, on March 6, 2020, under Section 406 of the Penal Code. For the second charge, he was accused of misappropriating RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Berhad account of Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by instructing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the funds. The act was alleged to have taken place at Malayan Banking Berhad, Taman Pandan Jaya, between April 8 and 21, 2018, under Section 403 of the Penal Code. Additionally, Syed Saddiq faced two charges of money laundering involving the transfer of RM50,000 each from his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. These transactions, allegedly proceeds of unlawful activities, were said to have occurred at a bank in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, on June 16 and 19, 2018. The money laundering charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to five times the amount involved, upon conviction. ‒ June 25, 2025 Main image: Bernama
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New Straits Times
3 hours ago
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Syed Saddiq acquitted of all corruption charges [WATCH]
PUTRAJAYA: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has been acquitted of all corruption charges today. A three-judge Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim allowed the former youth and sports minister's appeal, setting aside his conviction, seven-year prison sentence, RM10 million fine, and two strokes of the rotan. Other members of the bench were Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin. On July 22, 2021, Syed Saddiq was charged, as the then Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Armada wing chief entrusted with control of Armada funds, with abetting Bersatu assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1 million of the organisation's funds. The former youth and sports minister was also charged with misusing property for personal benefit, namely, RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Bhd account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise (ABBE), by causing Rafiq to dispose of the money. He was further charged with two counts of money laundering involving two transactions of RM50,000, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic Bhd account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. Reading the unanimous decision, Noorin said the lower court had erred in failing to properly evaluate the evidence and the legal elements required to prove the charges against Syed Saddiq. "The act of telling, instructing, or ordering someone to withdraw money cannot be considered as disposal of the money. "The act of withdrawing the money itself does not satisfy the element of actus reus (the physical act of a crime). "The learned trial judge also erred in referring to Article 24(8) of the Bersatu Constitution and in equating 'withdrawal' with 'expenses' under the same provision. "To read the word expenses (perbelanjaan) as necessarily encompassing withdrawal (pengeluaran) is not a conclusion that must follow from Article 24(8) of the Bersatu Constitution. "As such, the withdrawal of the RM1 million from Armada's account by PW13 (prosecution witness Rafiq Hakim) cannot be said to have been used or disposed of in violation of a direction of law," she said. Noorin said the principal offence of criminal breach of trust in the case was groundless, as it was undisputed that the RM1 million withdrawn was not misappropriated but used for Armada's programmes. She said the appellant could not be said to have abetted the commission of CBT when the offence itself did not meet any of the elements under Section 405 of the Penal Code. "The real issue arising from the abetment charge is whether the alleged instruction or command by the appellant to PW13 to withdraw the RM1 million amounts to abetment to commit criminal breach of trust. "It is our considered view that causing, commanding or instructing someone to withdraw money cannot be equated to 'disposal' or 'conversion' as prescribed under Section 405 of the Penal Code. "There must be actual usage of the money in the first place," she said, adding that no evidence showed the appellant had received a single sen from the impugned sum, as all the monies were spent on Armada's programmes or activities. Regarding the charge of misusing RM120,000 in cash, the court said the money came from fundraising efforts and was intended to fund the appellant's election campaign, she said. Therefore, the money essentially belonged to the appellant. "We find that even PW13 did not say the RM120,000 belonged to ABBE. "Instead, he testified that the account belonged to ABBE and that the money was deposited into it. We find not an iota of evidence showing that the money belonged to ABBE or Armada. There was no attempt by the prosecution to lead evidence that it was ABBE's money, or that ABBE's account was used to receive donations as a result of the appellant's appeal for assistance with his election expenses," she said. The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to adduce credible evidence or facts to support the Section 403 charge in a way that was believable or capable of belief. Syed Saddiq was represented by lawyers Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, S. Devanandan, Alex Tan, Kee Wei Loon, Low Wei Loke, Khairuzzaman Ridha, and Hing Heng Shen. The prosecution was represented by Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar, Muhammad Ashraf Mohamed Tahir, and Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
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Syed Saddiq's mother forgives the people who 'persecuted' her son [WATCH]
PUTRAJAYA: Sharifah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz, the mother of Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, said that she forgives those who persecuted her son. She made the statement after her son was acquitted of all four corruption-related charges at the Court of Appeal today. "To those who persecuted my son, I can only pray that Allah guides them. Life in this world is temporary. But I forgive them." Syed Saddiq; his father Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Sagoff, his mother and other family members were seen performing a prostration of gratitude (sujud syukur) after the appeal decision was delivered. His mother said: "Sometimes, as a mother, I want to tell my child – enough. Don't do it anymore. Don't get into politics because it's very difficult. "But his passion for Malaysia is strong. It goes beyond race and religion," she said. The politician's father also expressed gratitude for the judges' decision. A three-judge Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim allowed the former youth and sports minister's appeal, setting aside his conviction, seven-year prison sentence , RM10 million fine and two strokes of the rotan. Syed Saddiq was charged in 2021 and convicted by the High Court in 2023. In November of that year, he was sentenced to seven years in jail and two strokes of the rotan by the High Court after being found guilty of multiple charges, including abetting, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering.
