SHAH ALAM, Oct 25 — PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli was today ordered to enter his defence after being charged under a now-repealed law with publicly disclosing confidential banking information.
Sessions Court judge Zamri Bakar ruled that the prosecution has managed to prove a “prima facie” case against the Pandan MP over an allegation that he violated the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia), which was repealed in 2013.
Rafizi was charged with disclosing confidential banking information to the press at the PKR headquarters on March 7, 2012.
If found guilty, Rafizi faces up to three years imprisonment or a fine up to RM3 million, or both.
The trial will resume on December 4.
Rafizi, along with Public Bank officer Johari Mohamad, was charged under Section 97 of the Bafia act.
Rafizi previously lost a bid at the Federal Court to challenge the constitutionality of the charge under Bafia.
Rafizi already faces the prospect of not being able to contest in the next general elections after being convicted of breaking another secrecy law, the Official Secrets Act in 2016.
Rafizi was sentenced to 18 months jail due to his conviction, which means he cannot content in the elections unless he succeeds in overturning the conviction at the Court of Appeal, which is the last resort.
