It is not uncommon for the police to drop investigations into a case if the victim involved no longer wishes to pursue it, several lawyers said.

They were responding to Kelantanese "Mat Tere" who was released from police custody after Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, against who the former had allegedly issued an offensive remark, intervened and vouched for his innocence.

"There is no exact legal provision which allows for the police to stop an investigation when the complainant withdraws his or her report. It is up to the police's discretion.

"But usually, it is the case that when the complainant no longer wishes to pursue the case or withdraws the report, the police will also stop investigations and close the file," lawyer Syahredzan Johan told Malaysiakini today.