What were the key arguments presented by the prosecution in their appeal?

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Federal Court Upholds Syed Saddiq's Acquittal on Four Charges

The Federal Court has affirmed the acquittal of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on four charges related to RM1 million in Armada funds, dismissing the prosecution's appeal with a 2-1 majority decision. This ruling means the Court of Appeal's earlier decision to acquit the former youth and sports minister stands.
Majority Ruling Dismisses Prosecution's Appeal

Federal Court judges Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah formed the majority, agreeing to dismiss the prosecution's appeal. In their view, the Court of Appeal had correctly concluded that the prosecution failed to establish all four charges against Syed Saddiq. They reasoned that the mere withdrawal of funds did not inherently constitute criminal breach of trust, and that the Bersatu party's constitution governed internal party affairs rather than serving as a legal statute for criminal proceedings.
Dissenting Judge Believed Charges Were Proven

Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais dissented, finding that the Court of Appeal had erred and that Syed Saddiq should have been convicted on three of the four charges. In his dissenting judgment, Abu Bakar stated that the prosecution had successfully proven the dishonest misappropriation and money laundering charges. He proposed a sentence of six months' imprisonment and one stroke of the cane for the dishonest misappropriation charge, and for each of the two money laundering charges, he would have imposed six months' imprisonment and a RM5 million fine, with a two-year jail term in default of payment.
Ruzima: Withdrawal of Funds Not Necessarily Criminal Breach of Trust

Justice Ruzima elaborated that the prosecution had failed to establish the principal offence of criminal breach of trust. Consequently, he argued, the prosecution could not prove the abetment charge against Syed Saddiq. He emphasized that the Bersatu constitution, while governing party members, is not a law itself, and any non-compliance would typically attract disciplinary action unless it also constituted an offence under the law.
Collin Concurred with Majority Findings

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah concurred with Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali's findings, solidifying the majority decision to dismiss the prosecution's appeal. Syed Saddiq was present in court for the proceedings, accompanied by his legal team, while the prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.

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What were the key arguments presented by the prosecution in their appeal?

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