RIDICULOUS.

This was the word hurled at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission by Lim Guan Eng’s lawyer, following the agency’s claim that today’s development in the finance minister’s case came as a shock.

Lim, who faced graft charges in relation to the purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow home under market value, was this morning discharged with a full acquittal by the Penang High Court.

Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail made the decision after the prosecution told the court that it no longer wished to pursue the case.

“It is ridiculous for MACC to claim ignorance of today’s development, when the director of its own legal and prosecution division, Mohd Masri Daud, had informed the court that he was withdrawing the said charges.

“I was in court this morning with other counsel for both accused persons, and there was not a hint of dissatisfaction from Masri or his team that reflected MACC’s claim,” said lawyer Ramkarpal Singh in a statement.

After news broke that Lim and his former landlady, Phang Li Khoon – who sold him the house and was charged along with him – were discharged with full acquittals, MACC issued a statement, expressing shock over the development and distancing itself from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Ramkarpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP national legal bureau chairman, said the MACC statement, in turn, shocked him.

He said it implied that Masri, who led the prosecution in the case, was not aware of the attorney-general’s decision to withdraw the charges.

“Masri should clear the air and confirm that he surely did.”

He said Lim and Phang had submitted extensive and detailed representations to the attorney-general as to why the charges against them should be withdrawn, and these were taken into consideration before today’s ruling.

“The learned judge exercised the powers vested in her by ordering an acquittal as opposed to a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

“There was absolutely no error on her part in doing so, particularly when the prosecution itself indicated that it did not wish to proceed.”

Ramkarpal cited acquittals granted previously, like in the case of former National Feedlot Corp executive chairman Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

The husband of former Wanita Umno head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was acquitted of two criminal breach of trust charges, involving RM49.7 million, after the prosecution told the court that it did not wish to pursue the matter.

“There is nothing shocking about today’s acquittal, as no man should be left with the possibility of prosecution in the future hanging over his head by the grant of an order of a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, especially when there is clear indication that the prosecution wishes to withdraw that charge against him.

“This is elementary, and MACC’s failure to understand this is most unfortunate.” – September 3, 2018.