KUALA LUMPUR: Former Pandan MP Mohd Rafizi Ramli today walked out of the courtroom a free man after the magistrate’s court acquitted and discharged him of publishing a defamatory statement against Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), three years ago.
Magistrate Umzarul An-Nur Umar meted out the judgement after deputy public prosecutor Nadia Zulkefli informed the court that the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC) had accepted a letter of representation sent by Rafizi on Jan 24.
“The prosecution received an order to drop the case and we apply for a discharge and an acquittal of the accused,” she said.
Today was supposedly fixed for the first day of the defence’s case trial.
Rafizi was represented by counsel Adi Zulkarnainn Zulkafli.
On Sept 25, last year, Rafizi who is also PKR vice-president, was ordered to enter his defence after the prosecution had a prima facie case against him.
Rafizi was charged with defaming TH in an article entitled ‘Analisa Kewangan Tabung Haji 2009-2015’ (Tabung Haji Financial Analysis 2009-2015) which was uploaded on his Facebook account on Feb 9, 2016.
Rafizi allegedly committed the offence at Level 18, Bangunan Tabung Haji, 201 Jalan Tun Razak at about 9am on Feb 18, 2016.