Convicted Farmer Is Freed On Bail After Arguing That Najib Received The Same Treatment
The defence lawyer cited former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International case as precedent and applied for a stay of execution for his client.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 Apr 2022, 03:26 PM
A padi farmer is freed from jail sentence pending an appeal at the Federal Court after his lawyer argued that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak received the same treatment in July 2020
According to Free Malaysia Today, farmer Faiz Mohd Ruzeli was convicted of causing grievous hurt, but succeeded in his application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal yesterday, 20 April.
Faiz's case began on 26 June 2019 when he assaulted Nus Hassanat at Kampung Tambak Banggu in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Later on 28 July 2020, the Sessions Court found him guilty and sentenced him to seven years in jail and two strokes of the rotan.
However, the trial judge allowed Faiz's application for a stay of execution. The High Court, then on 14 December 2020, upheld his conviction and ordered him to begin his sentence immediately.
Following that, he filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal, which granted him a stay of execution again.
He was released on RM30,000 bail in one surety.
Coincidentally, both Faiz and Najib were sentenced to jail on the same day on 28 July 2020.
While defending his client, lawyer Azrul Hasyimi Mohammad brought up Najib's corruption conviction in the SRC International case and contended that the former premier was released on bail
Azrul told the three-member Court of Appeal bench — chaired by Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said — that both the High Court and the Court of Appeal had allowed Najib to remain free pending an appeal, reported Bernama.
Citing Najib's seven counts of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering, the defence lawyer asked why his client cannot be granted the same treatment.
In response, Kamaludin, joined by judges Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Hashim Hamzah, said Faiz's application for a stay of execution had merit, reported Free Malaysia Today.
"We agree that the sentence be suspended pending the outcome of his appeal against conviction and sentence," Kamaludin said.
The judge ordered Faiz to report to the Binjai police station in Kota Baru once every two weeks until his appeal is heard
Similarly, Najib was also ordered to report to the nearest police station twice a month when he was granted a stay of execution.
Najib is currently released on a RM2 million bail after he was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million.
His sentence was meted out by High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on 28 July 2020.
More than a year later on 8 December 2021, Najib failed to overturn his conviction at the Court of Appeal, with the court upholding the sentence meted to the former premier.
He was granted a stay of execution by both courts.
