KUALA LUMPUR: A former police lance corporal was acquitted today by the magistrate's court of charges of extorting RM200 from a woman whose Chinese-national friend failed to produce her passport last year.
Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan made her decision after ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Mohamad Ikhwan Mahat, 33, at the end of its case.
"The prosecution was unable to establish the elements of the offence allegedly committed by the accused," she said.
"Furthermore, the victim was not called to testify in court.
"As a result, the accused is discharged and acquitted without being called to enter a defence."
Four prosecution witnesses testified in the trial, which began on April 22.
Ikhwan was accused of demanding RM200 from Lee Log Ling, 26, if she wanted to be released after her friend failed to produce her passport during a routine check.
He was accused of committing the offence in Jalan Parlimen at 11pm on March 22 last year.