Former Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq, has been found guilty on all four charges, including Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT), misappropriation of property, and money laundering of Armada funds. 

The verdict has sentenced him to a significant seven-year jail term, accompanied by two lashes and a substantial fine of RM10 million for the aforementioned charges.

In an attempt to mitigate the sentence, Syed Saddiq’s defense lawyer, Haijan Omar, invoked emotional factors, emphasizing that he is the youngest child in his family and needs to care for his parents. He also urged the court to consider Syed Saddiq’s notable contributions during his tenure as the Minister of Youth and Sports. 

These contributions include his distinction as the youngest minister in Asia, his pivotal role in the historic constitutional amendment concerning Undi18 (lowering the voting age), his advocacy for increased allowances for intern students, and his substantial contributions to the development of Malaysia’s esports industry.

Another defense lawyer for Syed Saddiq, Gobind Singh Deo, pleaded for the court’s consideration of mitigating factors. He underscored the consensus that the money in question was not used for personal gain but was instead directed toward helping others during the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic. These claims were substantiated with evidence.