[UPDATED] First person charged under the Whistleblower Protection Act acquitted today

KUALA LUMPUR – The first person charged under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) has been acquitted by the sessions court here today.

The court ruled that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case against former deputy CEO of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Wafiy Abd Aziz, 37.

Judge Suzana Hussain ordered for him to be discharged without calling for his defence.

“After hearing witness testimonies offered by the defence, prosecution and relevant authorities, the court finds that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused.

“The accused is ordered to be acquitted and discharged,” Free Malaysia Today quoted the judge as saying, adding that the RM15,000 bail will be returned to the accused.

According to the charge sheet, Wafiy allegedly incited company chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Shariff to sign a document of “Termination of Employment” in retaliation against the whistleblower who exposed his improper conduct to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Wafiy allegedly committed the offence at the EMGS office, Suite A-21-1, Level 21, 157 Hampshire Office 1, Jalan Mayang Sari, here, on January 9.

The charge framed against him under Section 10 (3)(b) of the Whistleblower Protection Act carries a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or a jail term of not more than 15 years or both if convicted. – The Vibes, May 20, 2022