High Court dismisses Rafizi's striking-out bid

The Shah Alam High Court has today dismissed PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli’s striking-out application on his Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia) charge related to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) fiasco.

The decision was made by Justice Ghazali Cha.

Ghazali ruled that the application was premature as the court has yet to hear any of the witnesses and that possibly the matter could be raised when the trial starts.

“Although the court has the power to set aside the charge, the application is premature,” he said.

Rafizi was charged under Bafia earlier this year for allegedly disclosing vital banking account information related to the NFC and also its chairperson, Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

Despite the decision, Justice Ghazali had allowed a stay of proceeding at the Sessions Court pending an appeal.

Lawyers Sivarasa Rasiah and Latheefa Koya appeared for Rafizi.

Rafizi had applied for the Bafia charge to be struck out as it was done in bad faith after he and a former bank officer Johari Mohamad were charged after disclosing the discrepancy in NFC’s accounts.

Rafizi was charged on Aug 1 with contravening Section 97 of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia) for disclosing to the media four financial accounts related to the NFC and  Mohd Salleh.