It was only a matter of time before the courts in Malaysia start hearing arguments inspired by ex-PM Najib Razak’s 1MDB-linked cases.
And this week, by invoking the example of Najib as precedent, a padi farmer was able to get his jail term for causing serious harm delayed while waiting for the outcome of his last appeal.
Many have criticised Najib for being free, as a severe sentence in the SRC International case hangs over his head.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a large fine, yet he is still a sitting member of the Malaysian Parliament and is free to traverse the country, campaigning in elections and winning them.
He has billions in unpaid taxes and has also gotten a stay in this matter too.
Lawyer Azrul Hasyimi Mohammad argued for Faiz Mohd Ruzeli (the padi farmer in question) at the Court of Appeal.
Defending his client he cited the instance of Najib, who was convicted on seven charges of corruption but was permitted to postpone his sentence awaiting the outcome of his last appeal in the Federal Court.
On the same day, July 28, 2020, Najib and Faiz were condemned in separate courts on distinct accusations.
Not surprisingly, a three-member Court of Appeal court led by Kamaludin Md Said granted Faiz’s motion for a stay of execution. They said his application for a stay of execution had merit.
“We agree that the sentence is suspended pending the outcome of his appeal against conviction and sentence,” the judge said, as reported by the local media.
The ruling caught the attention of some Twitter users. One said this is a precedent that is now set.
THE PRECEDENT SET A padi farmer succeeded in his application at the Court of Appeal today for a stay of execution of his seven-year jail term for causing grievous hurt to a villageman pending the outcome of his final appeal by citing the case of former prime minister Najib Razak.
— ThePenangite@747 (@ThePenangite) April 21, 2022
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