(From left) Chua, Azizul Ammar, Abdul Ghani and instructing solicitor for the accused Umi Farhanah pose for a photo following the ruling.
SIBU: The magistrate’s court here yesterday discharged and acquitted the host and producer of TV3’s ‘Sukan Tak Sentral’ show for intentionally insulting former national sprinter Watson Nyambek.
Magistrate Saiful Sayoti said the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against host Azizul Ammar Abu Hassan, 30, and producer Abdul Ghani Mohammad Mokhtar, 41.
The two had been charged with intentionally insulting Watson and thereby giving provocation to him, knowing it to be likely that such provocation would cause him to break public peace.
The offence, framed under Section 504 of the Penal Code, provides a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both, if convicted.
Watson, 42, a full-time trainer with the National Sports Council, lodged a police report on April 24 last year against TV3 and the producer of the programme over alleged derogatory remarks made against his late father during the ‘Sukan Tak Sentral’ show.
During the programme, which was co-hosted by actress Marsha Milan Londoh, Azizul Ammar allegedly imitated the bleating of a goat while mentioning the name of Watson’s late father.
The four prosecution witnesses called to testify were Watson, his wife Fellizia Michael Samdom, Marsha, and Investigating Officer Norashikin Adin.
The accused were represented by Orlando Chua.