Actor Farid Amirul Hisham Wu Abdullah, better known as Detective Lim in the police TV series ‘ Gerak Khas ’, is a free man now as the Court of Appeal here today upheld his acquittal on a charge of stealing two books from an MPH Bookstores outlet three years ago.

A three-member panel, presided by Abdul Malik Ishak and also comprising KN Segara and Aziah Ali, unanimously dismissed the prosecution’s appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision to acquit and discharge him.  

Justice Abdul Malik said there was no evidence that the 46-year-old actor was seen taking the two books from the outlet.

He also said that the identity of the books which Farid Amirul was accused of stealing was doubtful because the investigating officer did not keep the books in a sealed envelope in the store at the police office but returned it to the supervisor of the outlet.

The judge said no marking was made on the books by the investigating officer when he received the books from the bookstore’s in-house guard who had apprehended Farid Amirul.  

“Based on the reasons, the court unanimously dismisses the prosecution’s appeal. This means that the High Court's decision is upheld. You, Farid Hisham Wu Abdullah, are acquitted and discharged,” said Justice Abdul Malik to Farid Amirul, who then shed tears.

On Dec 17, 2009, Farid Amirul was sentenced to two months’ jail and fined RM2,000 in default two months jail by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court which found him guilty of stealing the two books, namely ‘ Sistine Secrets ’ priced at RM89.90 and ‘ Decoding The Heavens ’ priced at RM105, from the MPH Bookstores outlet at Mid Valley Megamall at 7.15pm on March 27, 2009.

He succeeded in his appeal at the Kuala Lumpur High Court which had on Sept 24, 2010, acquitted and discharged him.  

Outside the court today, he said his income and credibility were affected by this case and that that he worked as a pump attendant at a petrol station in Malacca for one year because he could not get any other job.

He said he hoped that today’s court decision would raise the people’s confidence in him.  

“Most importantly, my parents can sleep well,” he said, adding that currently he was working as an assistant director of a 26-series TV programme ‘ Titisan Darah Pahlawan ’ which is expected to be released on Merdeka Day.

- Bernama