Rafizi Ramli ordered to enter defence in Bafia case

SHAH ALAM: The sessions court here today ordered Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli to defend himself against the charge he faces under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia).
Judge Zamri Bakar also ordered bank clerk Johari Mohamad to defend himself on the charge of abetting Mohd Rafizi.
Zamri made the decision after being satisfied that the prosecution had proved a prima facie case against the two accused.
The court set Dec 4, 7 and 8 for trial.
Earlier, counsel Ahmad Nizam Hamid, who represented Mohd Rafizi, informed that his client would give a sworn statement, while counsel Latheefa Koya, representing Johari, told the court that they would present two defence witnesses, including her client.
Deputy public prosecutors Lailawati Ali and Steve Chin appeared for the prosecution.
Mohd Rafizi, 40, pleaded not guilty to exposing the bank account statements of National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), National Meat & Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, as well as NFC chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail to media consultant Yusof Abdul Alim and The Star reporter, Erle Martin Carvalho.
He allegedly committed the offence at the PKR Headquarters at Merchant Square, Jalan Tropicana Selatan, Petaling Jaya, on Mar 7, 2012.
Mohd Rafizi was charged under Section 97 (1) of 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.
Johari, 46, also pleaded not guilty to abetting Mohd Rafizi on the same date and address. He was charged under Section 112 (1) (c) of BAFIA, and can be punished pursuant to Section 103 of the same act upon conviction. — Bernama