SANDAKAN: A 60-year-old lorry driver, who had been charged with stealing 31,200 litres of crude palm oil, was acquitted and discharged by the magistrate's court here without his defence being called.
Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali delivered her decision on the case involving Ho Chu Yin on Thursday at the Telupid mobile court.
The court held that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against Ho.
He was accused of committing the offence in Kampung Tampias, Jalan Ranau-Telupid, in the Telupid district at 3pm on July 15, 2021.
The charge stated that Ho, as a lorry driver of Keningau Palm Oil Mill Sdn Bhd, had been tasked to transport the crude palm oil, but he had stolen the said property.
The offence under Section 381 of the Penal Code provides a maximum imprisonment of seven years, and shall also be liable to fine, upon conviction.
The prosecution called 10 witnesses since the trial started on March 2 last year at the Telupid mobile court.
Assistant Superintendent Mazuki Ahmad Mahadi prosecuted, while counsel Kimberly Ye represented the accused.