Rape case: Da'i Syed gets stay of execution pending appeal
The High Court allowed his application for a stay of execution pending the disposal of his appeal.
SHAH ALAM - In case you missed it, celebrity preacher Da'i Syed who has been found guilty of raping a woman five years ago has been released on Friday, pending the disposal of his appeal against his conviction and jail sentence.
This was after Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin allowed an application by lawyer Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff who represented Da'i Syed or his real name Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, 29, for a stay of execution until the appeal is heard and decided on.
Syed Shah Iqmal is appealing against the Sessions Court's decision on Aug 30 which convicted and sentenced him to 10 years jail and three strokes of the rotan for the offence.
This was confirmed by his other lawyer Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat when contacted.
Abu Bakar said a hearing on the stay of execution application under Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code involving Syed as the applicant and the prosecution as the respondent had taken place.
He said the court allowed the application with several conditions but did not disclose the full details.
Syed Shah Iqmal was also represented by lawyers Datuk Wan Azmir Wan Majid and Muhammad Amin Othman.
Meanwhile, the appeal case management has been scheduled for Sept 24.
On Aug 30, Syed wept uncontrollably after the Sessions Court handed down the sentence on him for raping a woman five years ago.
Judge Norazlin Othman ordered him to immediately serve the sentence after he was found guilty as he failed to raise a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case.
While delivering the judgment, the judge ruled that the accused's defence was a mere denial and that his testimony was insufficient to refute the prosecution’s case.
On Dec 10, 2020, Syed pleaded not guilty to raping a 23-year-old woman (at the time of the offence) at a condominium unit at i-City in Section 7, here at 1.35am on Sept 11, 2019.
The charge framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and whipping, if convicted.
