KOTA KINABALU: A 19-year-old Filipino, who was charged with robbery, was yesterday granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Sessions Court here.
Judge Caroline Bee Majanil made the decision at the request by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Afzan Abd Kahar.
Afzan informed the court that she had received instructions from her superior not to proceed with the robbery charge against Nor Sidina Lapangie.
She said counsel Safrin Salleh, who acted for the accused, had written a representation letter to the DPP office and the prosecution had considered the letter and the fact that the complainant in this case, a 46-year-old man from Czech Republic, was no longer here.
Nor Sidina, who was accused of robbing the man of a sling bag at Jalan Pantai here about 11.35pm on July 13 this year, was however jailed for six months for carrying a six-inch knife at the same place and time.
He was convicted under Section 6 of the Corrosive, Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act 1953 which provides for a jail term of up to two years and whipping.
The accused had claimed trial to both charges on August 29 this year.