.png)
PUTRAJAYA – Despite the tense atmosphere at the Federal Court on Monday, the chairman of the three-member panel made a light-hearted remark, saying that all of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's plans could proceed following the majority decision in his favour.
Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the panel, made the remark after delivering the verdict, which saw the 34-year-old politician cleared by a majority ruling.
"Hopefully, those plans can be carried out accordingly," he said, drawing smiles from Syed Saddiq's family members and supporters seated in the public gallery.
In the decision, Syed Saddiq remained acquitted of four charges involving abetting criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property, and money laundering linked to funds belonging to Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada).
In a 2-1 majority decision, two judges, Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, ruled that the 34-year-old former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president should be acquitted.
Abu Bakar was the sole dissenting judge on the panel, having found the former youth and sports minister guilty on three of the four charges.
He said Syed Saddiq was acquitted of the first charge involving CBT but was found guilty on the remaining three charges involving misappropriation of property and money laundering.
"The decision is no longer relevant because the other two judges do not share my view.
"They are, of course, entitled to provide their respective views as Federal Court judges under the judicial system," he said.
