AG drops 16 high profile cases since 2018

KUALA LUMPUR - A total of 16 high profile cases have been discontinued by the Attorney-General (AG) in accordance with Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution since 2018 until this year.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the provision was in regards to the discretion of the AG to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence, other than proceedings before a syariah court, a native court or a court-martial.

"Of the 16 cases, the court ordered for an acquittal and discharge for 13 cases and three other cases were given a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) under Section 254(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

"The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has decided to drop the high profile cases after considering among others new developments in a case, a representation by a lawyer representing an accused, for an accused to be acquitted from the charge and become a prosecution witness or an accused who was issued with a compound," she said.

She said this in a written answer to Permatang Pauh MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan's question during a Dewan Rakyat session.

Muhammad Fawwaz had asked for the Prime Minister to state the data for high profile cases which have been dropped by the AG between 2018 and 2023 with the reasons why the cases were discontinued.

Azalina who was Pengerang MP said the AGC stressed that the decision to institute or drop a charge against anyone was based on evidence and the facts of the case from the investigations that had been carried out.

The decisions that were made, she said were fair and based on the evidence in the investigation papers and made with integrity so that victims, witnesses, the accused and the public would get justice in line with the AG's powers under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution.