The Shah Alam High Court upholds a 10-year jail term and three strokes of the cane for celebrity preacher Da’i Syed, dismissing his appeal against a rape conviction.
SHAH ALAM: The High Court here today upheld the 10-year prison sentence and three strokes of the cane imposed on celebrity preacher Da’i Syed for rape.
Judge Adlin Abdul Majid ordered the sentence to take effect immediately after dismissing the appeal against the conviction and sentence.
He ruled the Sessions Court judge had not erred in assessing the rape offence, as the prosecution had proven its case.
“The judge’s findings on the accused’s defence are findings of fact made after evaluating the evidence,” said Adlin.
“A higher court should not interfere with such findings unless there is a clear error.”
The judge also dismissed the prosecution’s appeal against the sentence, deeming it appropriate.
He noted there was no evidence of excessive cruelty or violence during the incident.
Defence lawyer Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff applied for a stay of execution pending a further appeal.
He cited his client’s role as sole breadwinner and full cooperation throughout proceedings.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Maizatul Munirah Abdul Rahman objected to the stay application.
The court subsequently dismissed the application for a stay.
Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, known as Da’i Syed, was originally sentenced on Aug 30, 2024.
The Shah Alam Sessions Court found him guilty and ordered the sentence to begin immediately.
A High Court later granted a stay on Sept 20, 2024, after he had spent 21 days in prison.
He had pleaded not guilty on Dec 10, 2020 to raping a 23-year-old woman.
The alleged offence occurred at a condominium here at 1.35 am on Sept 11, 2019.
He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code.