JOHOR BARU Discharge Without Acquittal Announced
JOHOR BARU: A 65-year-old man accused of slapping a person for eating in public during Ramadan has been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) by the Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate A Shaarmini issued the ruling after Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Fatihah Mohd Nizam confirmed receiving instructions from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to refer the case back to them.
The decision came as the court was setting bail conditions for the accused, Abdul Razak Ismail.
Defendant’s Plea Rejected Due to Inconsistencies
Earlier in the hearing, the accused admitted to the charge of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code but later challenged the prosecution’s account, leading the magistrate to reject his guilty plea.
The incident allegedly took place at a convenience store inside a shopping mall on Sunday (March 16) around 3.45pm, with the victim claiming he was slapped twice on the right cheek.
Medical reports confirmed bruising, but Abdul Razak contested this, stating that he did not hit the victim hard enough to leave marks.
Social Media Footage Sparks Outrage
Following viral social media footage, the police confirmed receiving a report from the 21-year-old victim, and investigations remain ongoing under Section 323.
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