Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders Azmin Ali and Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor were among eight reformasi activists acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur magistrates court today of an illegal assembly charge.

The eight were charged seven years ago when they protested over the allegation that former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was being poisoned with arsenic during his incarceration.

"After considering the witnesses' testimonials, (it can be deduced) that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused and the court orders them to be freed," magistrate Azniza Mohd Ali told a courtroom packed with PKR supporters and activists.

Azniza delivered the brief oral judgement on behalf of Mohd Khairi Haron, the presiding magistrate who has since been transferred.

Apart from PKR vice-president Azmin ( left ) and party Youth chief Ezam, the others charged were cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwarulhaque (better known as Zunar), Hishamuddin Rais, Abdul Ghani Haron, Tan Soi Kow, Anuar Zalik and Zaharuddin Ayob.

All except for Hishamuddin were present in court today. He is said to be in Kedah filming a documentary.

The eight were represented by a five-member defence counsel team comprising Amer Hamzah Arshad, CV Prabhakaran, Latheefa Koya, Hasnal Rezua Merican and Nik Mohamed Ikhwan.

Deputy public prosecutor Yusaini Amer Abd Karim appeared for the prosecution.

No interference

The eight were charged under Section 27 of the Police Act after being arrested at the gathering held on Sept 11, 1999 and the trial - dubbed as 'arsenic I' - commenced in 2002.

Days after that gathering, a group of opposition leaders and activists held a similar protest. Twenty-eight from that protest have since been charged and the hearing - dubbed as 'arsenic II' - is on-going.

Met after the decision, an elated Ezam said the court had made the right decision. He claimed that their victory was ensured because the government had not intervened.

"During (ex-premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) administration, the intervention in the judiciary system was rampant, in fact the judiciary in this country has been badly damaged during his time.

"It's a good sign the powers-that-be do not intervene much these days," he added.