The Federal Court today ruled that the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to hear Election Commission returning officer Amino Agus Suyub's appeal and stay on his jail sentence for contempt.

The five-member bench, chaired by Chief Justice Richard Malanjum, granted Amino a stay on his three-month jail term pending disposal of his appeal.

The bench also comprised Court of Appeal President Ahmad Maarop, Federal Court judge Ramly Ali, Chief Judge of Malaya Zaharah Ibrahim and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak David Wong Dak Wah.

According to Justice Malanjum, Amino must be given the right of a two-tier appeal.

The Court of Appeal said yesterday that Amino's appeal against his jail sentence was beyond its jurisdiction, pointing out that appeals against contempt proceedings by an Election Court should be heard by the Federal Court.

At the Court of Appeal, Amino's counsel G Rajasingam informed a three-member bench of the apex ruling.

Speaking to reporters later, Rajasingam said he would write to the Election Court judge to obtain the written grounds before filing a memorandum of appeal.

Lawyer Mohammad Haniff Khatri Abdullah, the counsel for Dr S Streram (photo), also told the court today that his client valued Amino's liberty.

Amino had been found guilty of contempt by the Election Court last week in the trial for the election petition filed by Streram for the Rantau state seat.

The officer was said to have attempted to coach assistant returning officer Daing Muhamad Rahimi on how to answer questions in the hearing into the election petition case. 

Streram had filed the election petition for Rantau after he was not allowed to submit his nomination papers at the centre on April 28, which resulted in BN candidate Mohamad Hasan winning the seat uncontested.