Rafizi back in the dock

KUALA LUMPUR: Just after he was sentenced to 30 months in jail by the Shah Alam Sessions Court, PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli was back in the dock for defaming Tabung Haji (TH).

This came about after magistrate Umzarul An-Nur Umar yesterday dismissed his preliminary objection to halt his trial disparaging TH in several articles posted on his Facebook account two years ago.

“Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code was not applicable in this case as it was not a private summons,” she said.

Rafizi, who is Pandan member of parliament, on Tuesday filed a preliminary objection at the magistrate’s court here to halt his trial.

The accused’s counsel, Gobind Singh Deo, told the court that his client questioned the validity of the trial on the basis of the magistrate’s failure to conduct an examination on the complainant’s grievances.

The complainant, Datuk Rozaida Omar, who is Lembaga Tabung Haji chief financial officer, when testifying yesterday, said the articles, published on Rafizi’s Facebook account were slanderous and brought a negative impact to TH.

“Based on our monitoring, the articles had led to several depositors withdrawing their money,” she said.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abas prosecuted.

Rafizi claimed trial to posting an article titled “Analisa Kewangan Tabung Haji 2009-2015” on his Facebook account on Feb 9, 2016, which allegedly contained disparaging content that could tarnish TH’s image.

He allegedly committed the offence on the 18th floor of Bangunan Tabung Haji, 201, Jalan Tun Razak here, around 9am on Feb 8, 2016.

The charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code carries up to two years’ jail or a fine, or both, upon conviction.