A former Malaysian government minister has been sentenced to a flogging and seven years in prison on charges of corruption, local media reported on Thursday.
Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the former youth and sports minister, was convicted of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of assets and two counts of money laundering.
The 30-year-old will get two strokes of the cane, making him the first politician to receive a flogging sentence, the reports said.
Apart from the caning and a 7-year jail term, Syed Saddiq was also fined an amount equivalent to $2.13 million. The former minister denied the charges and has filed an appeal.
Caning, being flogged with a moistened rattan cane, is a form of corporal punishment that convicted criminals may be sentenced to in Malaysia in addition to a prison term. It is used for a wide range of crimes including embezzlement, robbery, rape, and kidnaping.
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