Rafizi remains MP until disposal of appeal: EC

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli who was sentenced to 30 months' jail by the Sessions Court here today after he was found guilty under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) with disclosing banking information of four parties to the media six years ago is still Pandan Member of Parliament.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said Mohd Rafizi's status as a parliamentary member would be determined after completion of all the appeal process.
"At the moment, it is too early for the EC to comment on his (Mohd Rafizi) position, whether or not he can contest in the coming 14th general election as the case can only be finalised after all the relevant legal process is disposed off, because he still has the right to appeal," he said in a statement to Bernama here.
The Sessions Court here today sentenced Mohd Rafizi to 30 months' jail after finding him guilty on a charge with disclosing documents comprising balance summaries relating to NFC, National Meat & Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd and NFC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail bank accounts to media consultant Yusof Abdul Alim and The Star reporter, Erle Martin Carvalho six years ago.
Judge Zamri Bakar also handed down a similar sentence on former bank clerk Johari Mohamad after finding the man guilty of conspiring with Mohd Rafizi in committing the offence.
The court, however, allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal following requests by lawyers Latheefa Koya, representing Johari, and Ahmad Nizam Hamid, who represented Mohd Rafizi.
Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution states that a person is disqualified as an MP if sentenced to jail for a term of not less than one year or is fined not less than RM2,000 and has not received a pardon.
Mohd Rafizi, 41, was charged under Section 97(1) of BAFIA, punishable under Section 103(1)(a) of the same Act, which carries a maximum three-year jail sentence or RM3 million fine, or both, upon conviction. — Bernama