MACC man says did not investigate Syed Saddiq's source of income

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer told the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday that he did not investigate Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s source of income before the Muar MP became a minister.

Asbi Munip, 32, said this was because the money laundering case investigation was focused on the transfer of RM100,000 from Syed Saddiq’s personal Maybank account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) account.

"Based on my investigation, Syed Saddiq made two transactions of RM50,000 each on June 16 and 19, 2018 respectively into his ASB bank account," he said when cross-examined by lawyer Gobind Singh Deo at the trial of Syed Saddiq, who faces four charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering.

Asked by Gobind if he knew Syed Saddiq’s source of income before the latter became a minister, Asbi answered that he knew Syed Saddiq had been a part-time tutor at the International Islamic Universiti Malaysia.

However, Asbi said he did not recall that Syed Saddiq had been an English debating coach and a columnist for several portals.
 
Gobind: You did not ask Syed Saddiq. This is a basic question for the Amla case (money laundering case).

Asbi: I only focused my investigation on the money transfers.

Asbi also said he had not investigated Syed Saddiq's expenses for the 14th general election campaigns. 
 
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan asked the witness how he concluded that the RM100,000 from Syed Saddiq’s Maybank account was credited into his ASB account.

"There was a transaction of RM12,000 from the Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise bank account through four transactions into Syed Saddiq’s Maybank account.

"I also confirmed with an ASB officer that there was a money inflow amounting to RM100,000 to Syed Saddiq’s account and the Maybank account belongs to Syed Saddiq," said Asbi.

Syed Saddiq, 29, was charged as the then Bersatu youth chief, entrusted with the control of Armada funds, with abetting then assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali with CBT of RM1 million in funds belonging to the wing.

He was also charged with misusing property for himself, namely RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by causing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the money at Malayan Banking, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya between April 8 and 21, 2018.

He also faces two counts of engaging in money laundering activities through two transactions of RM50,000, believed to be the proceeds of unlawful activities, from his Maybank Islamic account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account.

The trial before judicial commissioner Azhar Abdul Hamid continues on Aug 22.