Justice Jamil Hussin acquitted Shahrir after deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Azmi told the court the prosecution did not wish to continue with the case.

Shahrir was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) with receiving RM1 million from former prime minister Najib Razak in 2013 and not declaring the sum to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). The funds were alleged to have originated from 1MDB.

Twenty-two witnesses testified during the trial.

Earlier, Rasyidah asked the court to grant Shahrir a discharge without acquitting him.

“We are exercising our right under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code as we do not intend to continue (the case).

“We hope the court can give the accused (Shahrir) an order of ‘discharge not amounting to an acquittal’,” she said.

However, Shahrir’s lawyers, Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and Dzulkilfi Ahmad, urged the court to grant him a full acquittal.

Jamil then asked Rasyidah why the prosecution did not want to pursue the case.

“Our instructions are not to continue,” she said.

Co-counsel Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros said that in those circumstances, the court ought to put an end to the matter for Shahrir by acquitting him.

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