KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has allowed an application by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to transfer his criminal case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

       In his decision, Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said that the court was convinced that there would be unusual questions of law that would be raised in the hearing.

       "It would be expedient for the ends of justice for the case against the applicant to be tried in the High Court. The application is therefore allowed," the judge said after hearing submissions from parties here on Thursday (Nov 25).

       On July 22, at the Sessions Court, here, Syed Saddiq was charged in his capacity as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth (Armada) chief, who had been entrusted with control of the Armada fund, with committing CBT by withdrawing RM1mil through a CIMB Bank Berhad cheque without obtaining permission from the Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council.

       He was alleged to have committed the offence at a CIMB Bank Berhad branch at Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, here, on March 6, 2020, under Section 405 of the Penal Code, which is punishable under Section 406 of the same code, providing maximum imprisonment of 10 years with whipping, and a possible fine, if convicted.

       The former youth and sports minister also faces a charge of misusing RM120,000 in donations meant for the GE14 campaign collected through the Maybank Islamic Berhad account owned by Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise.

       The act was allegedly committed at Maybank Islamic Berhad, Taman Pandan Jaya here between April 8 and April 21, 2018, according to Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to five years with whipping and a possible fine, if convicted.

       On Aug 5, at the Johor Baru Sessions Court, Syed Saddiq was charged with two counts of engaging in money laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which is believed to be proceeds of illegal activities.

       He was alleged to have committed the acts at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling here on June 16 and June 19, 2018.

       The charges were framed under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which is punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same Act, providing maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or proceeds of illegal activities.