The Court of Appeal today retained the decision to free the PKR vice-president after a request was made by the deputy public prosecutor, according to Rafizi’s lawyer Ahmad Nizam Hamid.

The move to challenge his acquittal had come under criticism, including from Attorney-General Tommy Thomas himself, who said he was shocked that his office had filed the appeal.

Thomas had said he would drop the appeal against Rafizi’s acquittal.

On Nov 15, the Shah Alam High Court acquitted and discharged Rafizi after overturning his conviction on a charge of revealing details of bank accounts related to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and its chairman, Salleh Ismail.

Rafizi has since announced his departure from politics to concentrate on a new business venture.