Judicial commissioner Arik Sanusi Yeop Johari said the prosecution had failed to adduce any direct evidence linking the accused, Amirul Khairol, 24, with the death of Liu Chee Wei, 25.

“DNA found on a cigarette filter at the crime scene was not linked to the accused,” the judge said.

Sanusi said there was also no cogent evidence to show that it was Amirul who torched Liu’s car.

The prosecution had also not proven that Amirul was the last person seen with Liu, the judge said.

Amirul was charged with committing the offence at Taman Arked in Sungai Petani between 2.30pm and 3.30pm on Dec 4, 2017.

Deputy public prosecutor Farhan Aliff Ahmad prosecuted while Amirul was represented by KT Jayaraj and S Prayveen Raj.

It was reported that Liu was found with a stab wound to his chest in a back alley of a house in Taman Arked. Liu had allegedly gone to the house to collect a debt payment.

Passers-by who noticed Liu crying out in pain alerted the police who arrived at the scene minutes later to find him dead.

Liu’s car, which was later found behind some bushes about 1km away from the crime scene, was torched.