The High Court however reduced the sentence of imprisonment from five years to one year and maintained the fine of RM5 million handed down by the Sessions Court in 2016. An offence under section 84(1) of the SIA carries a minimum fine of RM1 million and a maximum jail term of up to 10 years.

Following the judgment, the High Court further granted a stay of execution of the sentence pending the disposal of Low’s appeal to the Court of Appeal. In dismissing the appeal today, the High Court Judge Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid stated that the court agreed with the prosecution that the conviction is safe.

Following a full trial spanning close to 17 years, Low was convicted in 2016 by the Sessions Court for an offence under section 84(1) of the Securities Industries Act 1983 (“SIA”). He was charged with manipulating the price of Repco shares by engaging in acts to create a misleading appearance with respect to the price of Repco shares listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (now known as Bursa Malaysia) on 3 December 1997.

After reaching an all-time high of RM140.50 per share in September 1997, the share price of Repco plummeted to RM2.98 less than a year later. The stock was suspended from trading on Bursa Malaysia in October 2000, and delisted three years later.