Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed remains guilty of raping a woman in 2019 after the Shah Alam High Court in Selangor upheld the conviction and sentence imposed on him by the Sessions Court.
The sentence, 10 years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane, was upheld yesterday (23 January) after the appeal was dismissed. The decision was delivered by Judge Datuk Adlin Abdul Majid against Syed, whose real name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, after hearing submissions from both parties.
Judge Adlin said the court found that the Sessions Court judge’s decision was supported by strong evidence and a proper evaluation of both the prosecution’s and defence’s cases.
“The court found that there was no error in the decision made by the Sessions Court judge. The sentence imposed is reasonable and proportionate to the offence committed. Therefore, the sentence is upheld and takes effect from today (23 January).”
Previously, it was reported that on 10 December, 2020, Syed pleaded not guilty to raping a 23-year-old woman in a condominium unit at I-City, Section 7, at about 1:35 AM on 11 September, 2019. Syed was out on temporary release from 20 September, 2024, pending the completion of the High Court appeal proceedings.
Syed was seen crying in the dock after the court’s decision was read out
Represented by defence counsel Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff, Syed requested that the sentence be postponed, citing that his wife had given birth three months earlier and that their child was still young. However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Maizatul Munirah Abdul Rahman argued that the reasons advanced by the appellant were insufficient to warrant a suspension of the sentence, according to Berita Harian.
The court rejected the application, ruling that the offence was serious and had caused significant impact on the victim.
Syed’s wife
Syed’s wife, when met by members of the media outside the court, said she left everything to God and the lawyers, as reported by Kosmo!.
