Muhammad Rasyid(in middle) with his lawyer Haresh Mahadevan(right) and Ramzani Idris.
MELAKA: A Melaka Immigration officer looks forward to a blissful Hari Raya after being acquitted by the Session Courts here from two charges of armed robbery as well as outraging the modesty of a woman, nine years ago.
An elated Muhammad Rasyid Mohamad, 29, from Masjid Tanah here said he had received a precious Hari Raya gift after walking out as a free man on Friday (March 29) and accepted the court's ruling as a "Ramadan" blessing.
The court had earlier found that a prima facie case had not been made against the accused.
When interviewed, the father of a 13-year-old girl, said he has endured sleepless nights since the court case started and his life was hanging in uncertainty for all these years.
"I was suspended from my job, just after a month reporting to work at Melaka Immigration Department and subsequent suspension orders were issued due to the ongoing court case.
"I lost everything in my life, I kept appealing to keep my job while my friends distanced themselves from me," he said when interviewed.
Muhammad Rasyid said he also exhausted all his savings to clear his name and save his family's reputation.
He was grateful the court decided in his favour and thanked his lawyers Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris for giving him the "sweetest" Hari Raya gift.
"I feel so relieved and I am planning to join work soon after celebrating Hari Raya with my family," he said.
"I want to make this year's Hari Raya a lively affair together with my wife and daughter after being unable to celebrate it with peace of mind for a long time," he added.
Muhammad Rasyid's trial started in July, 2022, with 12 witnesses called.
He was initially charged in July 2015 under Section 392/397 of the Penal Code for armed robbery which carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in jail along with either a fine or whippings, upon conviction.
Additionally, he faced another charge framed under Section 354 of the Penal Code for criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman.
The charge provides imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments if found guilty.
