Former Perak menteri besar Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin was today discharged and acquitted on a criminal defamation suit by a Sessions Court in Ipoh after he openly apologised to Najib Abdul Razak for a disparaging remark made against the prime minister three years ago.

Nizar's lawyer Fitri Asmuni and DPP Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim, when contacted by Malaysiakini , confirmed that the former Perak menteri besar apologised in open court.

Nizar, when contacted by Malaysiakini , also confirmed he apologised and Najib accepted his apology.

“Based on the remark made against the PM, I realise it is baseless. Therefore, I sincerely apologise to him. I will be careful with my remarks,” Nizar said in open court.

Following this, Sessions Court judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin granted the acquittal.

Fitri said Nizar made the open apology under Section 260 (5) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows an open apology being made for a compoundable offence and it would not be recorded.

Nizar was charged with criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code for making the disparaging remark during a rally at Taman Desa Pakatan in Ipoh on April 23, in 2012.

Initially, Nizar was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal last year, but he was re-charged on Jan 30 this year.