Rafizi informed journalist on disclosing official document at press conference, court told

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was today told that Pandan Member of Parliament Mohd Rafizi Ramli High Court had informed a journalist that he wanted to disclose a federal government official document at a media conference at Parliament lobby last March 24.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) journalist Nawar Firdaws Idris, 28, said Mohd Rafizi wanted to reveal the document if the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) did not disclose detailed information on gratuity payment to retired soldiers.

"He (Mohd Rafizi) said that if LTAT does not do so by March 28, he will reveal the federal government official document," she added.

Nawar Firdaws said she attended the media conference on Mohd Rafizi's invitation through Whatsapp.

She said during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar in the hearing of Mohd Rafizi's case for unauthorised possession and exposing of official document on 1MDB audit report.
Earlier, questioned by lawyer Ahmad Nizam Hamid, Nawar Firdaws said at second media conference on March 28, Mohd Rafizi had distributed to media members a media statement which was enclosed with a copy of a document written "confidential".

She said the document was on a report by the Auditor-General on LTAT and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

She disagreed with lawyer Nik Zarith Nik Moustpha that the document was placed on the floor near the rostrum.

"It was distributed to the reporters, including me, and some of us put it on the floor, not that it was placed on the floor and I just picked it up," she added.

Mohd Rafizi, 39, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president and secretary-general, was charged with unauthorised possession of page 98 of the audit report on 1MDB at the Parliament lobby in Jalan Parlimen here at 3pm last March 24.
The offence, under Section 8(1)(c)(iii) of the Official Secrets Act, provides an imprisonment for up to seven years, if found guilty.

He is also charged under Section 8(1)(c)(iv) of the same law with exposing the contents of the 1MDB audit report in a media conference at the same place and time last March 28.

The offence also carries an imprisonment for up to seven years, if found guilty.

The hearing before judge Zulqarnain Hassan continues on Aug 9. — Bernama