Ex-Malaysian minister Syed Saddiq sentenced to 7 years

Malaysia’s former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman was sentenced to seven years in jail and two strokes of the cane after he was found guilty of charges including misappropriating funds, the Star newspaper reported.

Syed Saddiq, 30, was also fined 10 million ringgit (US$2.1 million) by the country’s High Court in a decision announced on Thursday, the paper said. His other charges were abetting in a criminal breach of trust and money laundering, it said.

However, the court has allowed Syed Saddiq’s application to stay the execution of his sentence while pending appeal.

The Star reported that as he was awaiting the verdict, Sayed Saddiq said he put his trust in the country’s judicial system to clear his name.

“My fate lies in the hands of Allah, the judge and the…