BAFIA was never meant to HIDE WRONGDOING - Rafizi's lawyers fire back at NFC's legal team

We refer to the statement issued on 2.11.2012 by NFC lawyers Shafee & Co calling for the Attorney General and Bank Negara to 'stand firm' on the BAFIA charges against Keadilan leader Rafizi Ramli.

This is a self-serving and preposterous statement by the legal representatives of the NFC, bearing in mind that Rafizi's act had revealed misuse of the RM 250 million government loan given to NFC.

What business or moral authority do they have to issue statements on the BAFIA charges against Rafizi?

Rafizi's exposures were a public-spirited act which should not have led to criminal charges being laid against him.

A-G & Bank Negara a disgrace

The A-G and Bank Negara disgraced themselves by bringing these politically motivated BAFIA charges against Rafizi. Indeed, it is clear that the authorities charged Rafizi because his exposures had embarrassed and politically damaged UMNO/BN.

It is sheer hypocrisy for NFC's lawyers to express worry that 'the very stratum of banking may collapse' because of Rafizi's revelations.

Have they forgotten that Rafizi's exposures led to the detection of criminal misappropriation of funds, which in turn led to CBT charges against NFC Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Salleh Ismail?

BAFIA was ever meant to be used to conceal wrongdoing

Their suggestion that Rafizi should have gone through 'proper agencies' is plain silly.

Do they seriously suggest that the UMNO/BN government would have taken any action against NFC in the absence of the public pressure created by Rafizi's revelations of the banking transactions?

The A-G should have exercised his discretion not to bring BAFIA charges against Rafizi in light of the public benefit brought about by Rafizi's brave and honourable act.

Shafee & Co needs to understand that the BAFIA was never intended to be used to conceal or prevent the exposure of criminal acts.

We call upon the A-G, Bank Negara and PM Najib Razak to immediately drop all charges against Rafizi Ramli, in the name of justice and the public interest.

N Surendran & Latheefa Koya

Lawyers for Rafizi Ramli