Malaysia’s top court clears Syed Saddiq of corruption, ending 6-year legal drama

Malaysian lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman walked free on Monday after the Federal Court dismissed the prosecutors’ final appeal in his corruption case, ending a six-year legal battle that had threatened to derail the future of one of the country’s most recognisable young politicians.The decision was reached by a 2-1 majority, with Federal Court judges Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Collin Lawrence Sequerah upholding last year’s acquittal of the former youth minister on four charges linked to funds belonging to Armada, the youth wing of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu party.Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the panel, dissented and would have convicted Syed Saddiq on three of the four charges: the alleged misappropriation of 120,000 ringgit (US$29,400) and two subsequent money laundering transactions.