The Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday acquitted former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager OC Phang, almost seven years after she was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust over payments worth RM254.85 million in relation to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

Her lawyer Francis Ng Aik Guan asked for a total discharge and acquittal after the Attorney-General's Chambers agreed to a letter of representation to drop the charges which was sent by his law firm.

Initially the DPP asked for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, he said.

However, following the charges being dropped, Ng added it was not proper for the court to only grant a discharge.

The Sessions Court judge Slamat Yahya then proceeded to grant an acquittal, Ng told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Phang was charged in December 2009 with CBT of RM98.7 million with the fund entrusted to her as the general manager of PKA between Oct 1, 2004 and Sept 5, 2005, at the PKA office in Jalan Pelabuhan Utara.

She was also charged with CBT of RM21.6 million at the same venue between Sept 30, 2005 and May 9, 2006, and RM134.55 million at PKA between June 1, 2005 and Jan 13, 2006.

Despite the acquittal, it is understood that a civil suit between PKA against Phang is still ongoing and scheduled for hearing next month.

Earlier, former transport ministers Dr Ling Liong Sik and Chan Kong Choy were acquitted with cheating the cabinet in relation to the PKFZ project.

Ling was called to enter his defence but was acquitted, while the Attorney-General's Chambers allowed the letter of representation sent by Chan's lawyers.