Azmi Sharom acquitted of sedition

Universiti Malaya's Dr Azmi Sharom received a discharge amounting to acquittal in his sedition case at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today after his lawyer pressed the point that the attorney-general has already announced a decision to drop the charge against the associate professor. Gobind Singh Deo said it was unfair for Azmi to bear with the charge after the prosecution have had their "full day in court". He submitted that since the Attorney-General's Chambers had reviewed the charge after all the prosecution witnesses' testimonies, there was nothing left but to acquit his client. Deputy public prosecutor Ezrene Zakariah initially requested the court for a discharge not amounting to acquittal for Azmi. Judge ‎Amernudin Ahmad then granted a full acquittal. "Case laws say it should be an acquittal unless‎ there are cogent reasons to grant a discharge without an acquittal. "The prosecution has had its full in court and there is no cogent reason for the case to be left hanging over the head of the accused. "He has gone through 17 months of applications and trial since being charged in 2014," Gobind said.‎ On February 12, the AGC issued a statement on the Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali's decision to drop the charge against the UM academic.‎ ‎Apandi said the decision was made after reviewing evidence from all prosecution witnesses who testified in court.‎ – February 19, 2016. MORE TO COME]]>