KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today acquitted and discharged Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy of a charge in relation  to 1MDB audit tampering case. 

Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan (currently Court of Appeal judge) ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the duo at the end of the prosecution’s case.

He said  Arul Kanda, who was called as the prosecution witness had made truthful and full discovery during the trial.

Najib, 70, who is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang prison for misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds, is charged with using his position to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to avoid any action being taken against him.

While Arul Kanda, 46, is charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments to the report, to protect Najib from being subjected to action.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex, Federal Government Administrative Center, Putrajaya between Feb 22 and 26, 2016.

Both of them were charged under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.