SHAH ALAM: Rafizi Ramli’s appeal against his 30-month jail sentence at the High Court today was postponed after he came down with severe food poisoning.
The appeal was related to his sentence under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 (BAFIA) for exposing bank account details of the National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd and its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.
The PKR vice-president’s appeal was to be heard before Judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa this morning.
However, Rafizi’s counsel Ahmad Nizam Hamid informed Yazid that his client was unwell due to severe food poisoning and could not make it to court.
Yazid then set the appeal to be heard on Oct 24.
Also present in court was former bank clerk Johari Mohamad, who was sentenced to 30 months’ jail for abetting Rafizi.
Johari’s counsel, Zaid Malek, was also present.
Ahmad Nizam said Rafizi had unexpectedly fallen sick last night.
“We were ready to proceed with the hearing today following the submission of the necessary documents by both parties.
“However, last night I was informed by Rafizi himself that he was down with severe food poisoning and he was unable to attend today’s proceedings.
“We have also submitted a copy of Rafizi’s medical certificate to the court,” Ahmad Nizam told reporters at the court complex lobby.
In Feb 2018, Rafizi and Johari were sentenced to 30-months jail by Sessions Court judge Zamri Bakar after seven years of trial.
On Aug 1, 2012, Rafizi pleaded not guilty to disclosing four statements of accounts belonging to Public Bank Bhd customers - NFC, National Meat and Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience and Industries Sdn Bhd and Mohamad Salleh - to two individuals identified as Yusuf Abdul Alim and Erle Martin Carvalho.
The offence was committed at the PKR head office in Merchant Square, Jalan Tropicana Selatan, Petaling Jaya, on March 7 the same year.
On the same day Johari was charged with conspiring with Rafizi.
Both of them were charged under Sections 97(1) and 112(1)(c) of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia), punishable under Section 103 (1) (a) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of three years or a maximum fine of RM3 million or both, upon conviction.