A PADI farmer succeeded in his bid to get a stay of execution of his seven-year jail term for causing grievous hurt to a fellow villager pending the outcome of his final appeal at the appellate court in Putrajaya today by citing Najib Razak’s case.

Mohamad Faiz Mohd Ruseli’s lawyer cited the former prime minister’s case, in which the leader was convicted on seven corruption charges involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds but was given a stay of execution pending his appeals.

The Court of Appeal three-member panel, comprising justices Kamaludin Md Said, Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Hashim Hamzah, agreed to allow the farmer’s application for a stay of execution of his jail sentence.

“We agree that the sentence be suspended pending the outcome of his appeal against conviction and sentence,” said Kamaludin.

Faiz was granted bail of RM30,000 with one surety, but ordered to report to the Binjai police station in Kota Baru, Kelantan, once every two weeks until his appeal is heard.

On July 28, 2020, the 25-year-old was found guilty of causing grievous hurt to Nus Hassan, 42, in a 7pm incident at Kg Tambak Banggu in Kota Baru on June 26, 2019.

The Sessions Court sentenced him to seven years’ jail and ordered him to be given two strokes of the rotan, but allowed his application for a stay of execution of his sentence pending his appeal to the High Court.

However, the High Court upheld the Sessions Court’s decision on December 14, 2020, and denied his stay of execution pending his appeal against his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal.

Both Faiz and Najib were sentenced by different courts on different charges on the same day on July 28, 2020. – Bernama, April 20, 2022.