A MAGISTRATE’S court in Shah Alam today granted former Permatang Pasir assemblyman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on a charge of outraging the modesty of a salesgirl two years ago.

Surya Putra Mohamed Taulan, representing Faiz, 46, said magistrate Mohamad Suffian Jaafar granted him the DNAA after the prosecution informed the court that the Attorney-General’s Chamber had received Faiz’s representation.

“Today, the prosecution requested the court to grant my client a discharged not amounting to an acquittal. We have filed representations twice with the latest one on August 16,” he said.

He said the case was still at the management stage and the trial had not yet commenced.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Zahida Zakaria.

DNAA means that the accused is discharged from the current charges but can be hauled back to court for the same charges.

On June 9, 2021, Faiz pleaded not guilty to the charge of using criminal force with the intent to outrage the modesty of the 31-year-old woman in a car travelling from Sunway Pyramid shopping mall to Subang Jaya between 9.45pm and 11.30pm on March 8, 2021.

The Amanah central committee member was charged under section 354 of the penal code, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine and whipping, upon conviction. – Bernama, September 7, 2023.