KUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court here has acquitted graphic designer Fahmi Reza over a charge under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 involving a clown sketch of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Sessions Court judge Zamri Bakar made the decision after DPP Noor Jazilah Mohd Yushaa informed the court that the Attorney General’s Chambers had agreed to withdraw the charge against Fahmi.
“The AGC has received a letter from Fahmi, therefore the prosecution does not wish to proceed with the case.
“We ask for the accused to be given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal,” she said on Thursday (Oct 11).
Fahmi’s lawyer Syahredzan Johan, however, asked the court to grant a discharge and acquittal on grounds that the prosecution did not want to proceed with the case.
The court agreed and granted a discharge and acquittal.
Previously, Fahmi sent two letters of representation dated June 12 and July 17 to the AGC, seeking for a withdrawal of his case.
The letters were sent after the case had been called for trial and three prosecution witnesses testified.
On June 6, 2016, Fahmi pleaded not guilty at a Sessions Court here for uploading an edited image of the then prime minister on Facebook with the intention to offend on his Instagram account.
He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which provides for a maximum two years in jail or a maximum fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.Did you find this article insightful?
