KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has dismissed claims that its reputation and credibility have been tarnished by the discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) granted in Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption case.
Attorney-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, in a statement today, said charges against an accused may be dropped at any moment as long as judgment has not been passed.
"Such decisions can be made even after a prima facie case has been established.
"It is important to note that this is not the first time a charge has been dropped after a prima facie case was established."
Terrirudin was responding to the statement made by Bar Council president Karen Cheah, who today claimed that the AGC's decision to apply for a DNAA at "such a late juncture" had tarnished its reputation and credibility.
Cheah also questioned the approval of the DNAA when a prima facie case had already been established by the previous lead Deputy Public Prosecutor.
Following this, Terrirudin said the AGC was also in the best position to decide whether a certain charge should be continued based on various factors, including reports and representations submitted.
He added that in Zahid's case, the charges were dropped in line with Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution and 11 representation letters were submitted by his legal team to drop the charges.
"Both the AG and AGC cannot casually reject the representations submitted and we are in the best position to decide whether the charges should be dropped or not based on various factors.
"The representations submitted (in Zahid's case) also consisted of many details involving over 200 pages and this took a lot of time and effort by the AGC before making any decision."
Terrirudin, at the same time, urged all quarters to stop speculations on the case as the AGC was still in the process of investigating the case based on new evidence submitted.
"Any decision made, whether to prosecute the accused or other related parties will be conducted once a detailed and comprehensive investigation has been completed."