Malaysian MP cleared of corruption, judge jokes about wedding plans

A Malaysian court has cleared Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of corruption charges, with a judge playfully remarking that the politician could now proceed with his wedding plans. The Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 majority decision, allowed Syed Saddiq's appeal to be acquitted and discharged from charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of Armada funds, and money laundering.

This ruling overturns a High Court decision from November 9, 2023, which found Syed Saddiq guilty of four charges. He was accused of colluding with the former Assistant Treasurer of Armada, Rafiq Hakim Razali, to misappropriate RM1 million from the organization. The High Court had sentenced him to seven years in prison and a RM10 million fine, though a stay of execution was granted.

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Although we are judges, we are also ordinary humans. We also follow developments around us. We observe and we know the respondent has plans for what to do next, we know that. Now that you know the majority decision is in your favor, hopefully, those plans can be made.

During the proceedings, Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais humorously alluded to Syed Saddiq's personal life. "Although we are judges, we are also ordinary humans. We also follow developments around us. We observe and we know the respondent has plans for what to do next, we know that," the judge said. "Now that you know the majority decision is in your favor, hopefully, those plans can be made." While not explicitly stating the 'plans,' the comment was widely understood to refer to Syed Saddiq's intention to marry singer Bella Astillah. The couple became engaged on March 28, and their wedding date remained uncertain as Syed Saddiq had previously stated he would focus on the appeal case.

The judge also took the opportunity to explain previous postponements, attributing them to the ill health of a panel judge. "I want to say that although we are judges, we are also ordinary humans, we are healthy, we are not healthy, these things happen," he said. "So when a judge is unwell, the case has to be postponed, it is not something that has never happened. I hope all parties can accept it."

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I want to say that although we are judges, we are also ordinary humans, we are healthy, we are not healthy, these things happen. So when a judge is unwell, the case has to be postponed, it is not something that has never happened. I hope all parties can accept it.