KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Supreme Council Datuk Lokman Adam has been acquitted and discharged for a charge of spreading fake news related to the Covid-19 vaccine in 2021.
Sessions Court judge Nor Hasniah Ab Razak decided so after finding there was no case against Lokman at the end of prosecution's case.
This, she said, was found after making maximum evaluation against all testimonies and exhibits presented by the prosecution, as well as submissions by both prosecution and defence.
"The court, therefore, found no prima facie case established against the accused. The defence has successfully proven reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.
"With this, the prosecution has failed to base a prima facie case against the accused.
"The court, thereby, orders the accused to be acquitted and discharged without having to enter his defence against the charges he faced," she said when delivering her brief decision this morning.
Lokman was charged, on October 1, 2021, with spreading fake news on the death of a police officer Assistant Commissioner Shariman Saidin.
Shariman was later confirmed to have died from a heart attack and not from any complication due to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The charge is framed under Section 4(1) of the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) (No 2) 2021, which carries a fine of not more than RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh prosecuted, while Lokman was represented by lawyer Logen Eskander.
When speaking to reporters after today's proceedings, Lokman said the court's decision as well as his lawyer's submissions proved that the statement he made did not contradict any facts.
Clad in baju Melayu top, he appeared calm and thanked the court for today's decision.