Two police officers charged with assaulting a Guang Ming Daily photographer during the mega Bersih 3.0 rally last April have today been acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court, without their defence being called.

NONE Corporal Mohd Khairul Asri Mohd Sobri and Constable Shahrul Niza Abdul Jalil were acquitted after Magistrate Nurulain Abdul Rahim found that prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case when she ruled that photographer Wong Onn Kin ( left ) and the other witnesses had testified that they could not identify Wong's attackers.

A total of five prosecution witnesses, including Wong, had been called in to testify.

“Following this, the court acquits both the accused without their defence being called,” Nurulain said.

The two were represented by counsel Salim Bashir and Halim Ashgar, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Kalmizah Salleh represented the prosecution.

During submissions, Salim pointed out that the photographer also gave conflicting testimony with the report he had lodged.

The duo were charged under Section 352 of the Penal Code for using criminal violence against Wong, together with two others still at large, at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja between 5.20pm and 5.30pm on April 28.

Khairul, 28, is attached with the Tanjung Malim police station while Shahrul Niza, 25, is stationed at the Dang Wangi police station.

It is learnt that they are the only police personnel charged thus far in relation to widespread allegations of police violence at the pro-electoral reform rally held on April 28.