Celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, better known as Da'i Syed, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and given three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court after being found guilty of raping a woman five years ago. Judge Norazlin Othman handed down the sentence to the 29-year-old preacher, stating that the defense had failed to raise reasonable doubt regarding the charges.
Judge Norazlin emphasized that, as a religious preacher and motivational speaker who had a significant influence on the community, Syed's actions were particularly unacceptable. "The court has taken into account the trauma suffered by the victim, who bravely came forward to file a police report and endure the lengthy legal process," the judge noted. She ordered that Syed’s prison term commence immediately.
The charges against Syed stem from an incident on September 11, 2019, when he was accused of raping a 23-year-old woman in a condominium in I-City, Section 7, Shah Alam, around 1:35 a.m. He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and caning.
In delivering the judgment, Judge Norazlin remarked that the defense presented by Syed was mainly based on denial and an attempt to reinterpret facts, despite initial statements to the police that seemed to support his version. The judge stated that Syed’s testimony did not sufficiently counter the prosecution’s evidence that the rape had occurred.
“The accused claimed there was no element of coercion from the moment he invited the victim out until the alleged sexual act took place. He denied any form of threat toward the victim during or after the incident, and even suggested that their communication afterward was cordial,” the judge explained. However, she pointed out that the defense's arguments lacked conclusive proof and were dismissed as mere denials.
Judge Norazlin further noted that the prosecution successfully established that Syed was the one who initiated contact with the victim and brought her to his residence. "As a well-known speaker and motivator with a strong reputation, the accused held a position of trust. The prosecution demonstrated that the victim, suffering from depression, was vulnerable and unable to resist or make clear decisions," she added.
Following the sentencing, Syed broke down in tears in the courtroom. Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin requested a severe punishment, citing the need to deter similar crimes, which have become increasingly common. "Given the accused’s standing as a preacher and motivational speaker with a strong religious background, he was respected by many. Unfortunately, he exploited this trust and took advantage of the victim," she argued.
Syed’s lawyer, Syed Amirul Syed Edros, pleaded for leniency, noting that this was Syed’s first offense. He requested a suspension of the sentence, pointing out that his client is recently married and has a newborn child just 16 days old. "If my client is jailed, it would have a devastating impact on his family, as his wife and child need him," the lawyer stated.
The trial saw testimonies from 18 prosecution witnesses and one defense witness—Syed himself. Initially, on April 10 of the previous year, the Shah Alam Sessions Court acquitted Syed of the rape charge, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case. However, on March 7, the Shah Alam High Court overturned this decision, allowing the prosecution’s appeal and ordering Syed to defend himself against the charge.
FlyingBird is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
