The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged a former Kelantan financial officer for abetment in making false claims over projects involving the Istana, worth RM267,960.

Judge Zainal L Salleh, in his judgment, said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Shokri Mohamed, 57.

"The evidence available is not enough and based on that ground, the prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case.

"After studying submissions by both parties, I find there is no clear evidence to prove there is abetment and therefore the accused is acquitted and discharged," he added.

Tears flowed freely down Shokri's cheeks as family members hugged him after the verdict was passed.

Shokri was accused of committing the offence when Yusri Che Noh, 39 forwarded a document which contained false details, namely an invoice No 1302 dated Dec 3, 2008, with billing "Claim To Supply Materials and Building Work" to build a "Quail House" at the DiRaja Banggol project site here, a project covering 7,656 sq ft at a cost of RM267,960.

He was charged for abetment in the claim as when the claim document was handed to him at the State Treasury office here in December 2008, the "Quail House" project had not been carried out.

Shokri was charged under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and could be sentenced under the same act, read together with Section 109 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of bribery or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Shokri was represented by lawyers Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, Zainal Abidin Mustaffa and T Kumar, while deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Ahsan Abdul Latiff prosecuted.

- Bernama