KOTA BAHARU: The High Court here yesterday ordered businessman Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusoff to be acquitted and discharged on a charge with voluntarily causing hurt by spraying a dangerous substance at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2006.
Justice Datuk Mariana Yahya made the decision after allowing an appeal by Nik Sapeia against the Jan 14, 2010 decision by the Kota Baharu Magistrate’s Court in sentencing him to six months’ jail for the offence.
In her judgment, Mariana said Magistrate Azman Mustafa had erred in facts and law when convicting Nik Sapeia of the charge made under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
“The appellant’s task is to raise doubts against the case and the appellant has created that doubts,” she added.
Soon after Mariana handed down her judgment, Nik Sapeia was seen in tears and then hugged his panel of lawyers, led by Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Shafee, family members and supporters at the public gallery in the court.
On Jan 14, 2010, Magistrate Azman Mustapha sentenced Nik Sapeia to six months’ jail after finding the businessman guilty of voluntarily causing hurt by spraying a dangerous substance at Dr Mahathir.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, about 11am on July 28, 2006.
Apart from Dr Mahathir, Nik Sapeia was also charged with causing hurt to Datuk Ibrahim Ali, 60, Mohd Nasir Muda, 50, and Suberi Sahidan, 52 .
Nik Sapeia, 58, was charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code which carried a maximum imprisonment for three years, or fine, or whipping or any two of them, if convicted.
Other lawyers representing him were Datuk Ramli Yusoff, Badrul Munir Bukhari, Y.Sheelan Samugam and Zainul Abidin Mustaffa, while Deputy Public Prosecutors Idham Abdul Ghani and Lailawati Ali prosecuted.
Met by reporters later, Nik Sapeia, who is People’s Progressive Party (PPP) vice-president, said he was grateful that his appeal was accepted and promised to continue to fight for the people’s rights.
He also said he had no intention of taking legal action against the people who had caused him to go through this ordeal. — Bernama