KUALA LUMPUR: PKR top leadership today said the party is confident that lawyers representing its vice president Rafizi Ramli will proceed with an appeal against his sentencing at the Sessions Court.
The Pandan MP was sentenced to 18-month jail this morning for unauthorised possession of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) audit report and exposing it to the media.
Party deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said he acknowledged the decision made by the court and would leave it to the lawyers to proceed with the next course of action.
"I believe the attorney will file an appeal against this decision and it is allowed for him (Rafizi) to defend himself.
"The decision has been made. However, it is not final because he can still go to the appeals court," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby today.
Azmin who is also the Selangor Menteri Besar added that Rafizi's sentencing only strengthens the PKR further.
Rafizi was accused of possessing Page 98 of the 1MBD audit report, without approval, at the Parliament lobby in Jalan Parliament at 3pm on March 24 this year.
He was also accused of exposing, without approval, the contents of the page at a press conference on March 28.
Rafizi was charged under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) which carries a maximum jail term of seven years, upon conviction.