Abu Backer walks out of court a free man

GEORGE TOWN: Former Bukit Gelugor by-election candidate Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan, who was charged with provocation by uttering racist remarks, has been freed by a Sessions Court here without having his defence called.

Judge Zaharah Hussain acquitted Abu Backer, 47, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against him. She said the court freed Abu Backer because only the testimony of the two journalists from two Tamil dailies, who were the complainants of the case, were used as the foundation of the charge.