The Court of Appeal said celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Shaiful's conviction was unsafe. (Bernama pic)PUTRAJAYA: Celebrity preacher Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Shaiful, known as Da’i Syed, was acquitted by the Court of Appeal today of raping a woman seven years ago.

The decision was reached by a 2-1 majority, with Justices Azman Abdullah, who chaired the panel, and Radzi Abdul Hamid ruling in favour of Syed Shah Iqmal’s appeal.

Reading the majority decision, Azman said the defence succeeded in raising reasonable doubt.

"The appellant's conviction is unsafe. The appeal is allowed and the 10-year jail sentence and three strokes of the cane imposed by the High Court are set aside."