Sintok: The High Court here today acquitted and discharged a former warden of a private drug rehabilitation centre on a charge of murdering an inmate at the facility in Sintok, Changlun, four years ago. Judge Evawani Farisyta Mohammad ordered Sidi Ahmad Amin Mamat, 50, to be freed after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Judge Evawani Farisyta said the prosecution had failed to prove that the injuries sustained by the deceased were caused by the accused. She highlighted that the evidence suggested the possibility that the victim had been assaulted by other individuals at two or three different locations. Notably, two traces of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from unknown persons were found on the deceased's sarong.

Judge Evawani Farisyta further noted discrepancies in the prosecution's case. While Sidi Ahmad Amin was charged with hitting the victim on the chest and neck, the prosecution's pathologist testified that the cause of death was injuries to the abdominal aorta. Consequently, the court ruled that the charge could not be sustained and ordered the accused to be acquitted without having to enter his defence.

Sidi Ahmad Amin was initially charged with murdering Umar Muhajir Ghazali at the drug rehabilitation centre in Sintok, Changlun, between 11 am and 6.30 pm on November 4, 2021. The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, if not sentenced to death, upon conviction.

The defence team for Sidi Ahmad Amin comprised lawyers Mohd Hezeri Harun and Mohd Fadhly Yaacob, while the prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shah Reza Noor Azman.