{
  "id": 18061989,
  "title": "Preacher Da'i Syed walks free after Court of Appeal overturns rape conviction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/preacher-dai-syed-walks-free-after-court-of-appeal-overturns-rape",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T03:15:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/11/1570375/preacher-dai-syed-walks-free-after-court-appeal-overturns-rape"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Celebrity preacher Da i Syed, whose birth name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, was released from prison after the Court of Appeal overturned his rape conviction. The 10-year jail sentence and three strokes of the cane handed down by the High Court were set aside, according to the decision made by a 2-1 majority of judges. The conviction was deemed unsafe as the defence had successfully raised reasonable doubt. Syed Shah Iqmal, who was in the courtroom, was seen weeping upon the majority decision. He and his wife, Hana Ismail, were visibly emotional as they sat in the public gallery. The charges against him were brought forth on Dec 10, 2020, for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman at a condominium in I-City on Sept 11, 2019. The charge under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code could have resulted in a maximum 20-year prison term. Despite the initial acquittal by the Shah Alam Sessions Court on April 10, 2023, the High Court intervened and allowed the prosecution's appeal, leading to Syed Shah Iqmal's imprisonment on Aug 30, 2024.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA: Celebrity preacher Da’i Syed, whose real name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful, was acquitted and discharged by the Court of Appeal here today of a rape charge involving a woman seven years ago.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Appeals court acquits Da’i Syed of rape charge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/appeals-court-acquits-dai-syed-of-rape-charge",
        "published": "2026-11-04T03:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Court of Appeal acquits Da’i Syed of rape charge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/court-of-appeal-acquits-dai-syed-of-rape-charge",
        "published": "2026-11-04T04:56:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(URGENT) Appeals court sentences ex-President Yoon to suspended prison term for violating election law",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/urgent-appeals-court-sentences-ex-president-yoon-to-suspended-prison",
        "published": "2026-11-04T05:43:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Do not abuse your popularity’: Judge delivers warning after preacher Da’i Syed beats rape charge in split decision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/do-not-abuse-your-popularity-judge-delivers-warning-after-preacher",
        "published": "2026-11-04T06:08:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}