PUTRAJAYA, Nov 4 – The Court of Appeal has acquitted celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, better known as Da’i Syed, of a rape charge involving a 23-year-old woman in Shah Alam in 2019.
The decision was delivered on Wednesday (Nov 4) following a 2-1 majority ruling by a three-member panel.
Justice Azman Abdullah, who chaired the panel, delivered the majority judgment. Justice Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid agreed with the decision, while Justice Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid issued a dissenting judgment.
Court Finds Reasonable Doubt in the Case
In delivering the majority decision, Justice Azman said the panel had carefully reviewed the appeal records.
The court found that the High Court had made a serious error and that the defence had raised reasonable doubt in the case.
Justice Azman said the conviction could not safely stand. As a result, the appeal was allowed.
The court also set aside the 10-year prison sentence and three strokes of the cane previously imposed on Da’i Syed.
Case Dates Back to September 2019
The case involved an incident at a condominium in I-City, Section 7, Shah Alam.
The alleged incident took place at approximately 1.35am on September 11, 2019.
Da’i Syed was first charged at the Sessions Court on December 10, 2020, over the allegation involving the woman, who was 23 at the time.
The case subsequently went through the court process before reaching the Court of Appeal.
Majority Decision Ends Final Appeal
The Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision allows Da’i Syed’s final appeal against the conviction.
The ruling sets aside the earlier conviction and sentence.
The decision also highlights the role of appellate courts in reviewing lower court judgments and assessing whether convictions can safely stand based on the evidence and legal arguments presented.
Source : BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
