JOHOR BARU: The Rohingya man known as Long Tiger has been discharged not amounting to an acquittal by the Tangkak Magistrate’s Court.

       Magistrate Zaridah Y. Abdul Jaapar ordered Long Tiger, whose real name is Abdul Hamim Ab Hamid, to be discharged over his case under Section 388 of the Penal Code for extortion on Tuesday (May 17).

       ALSO READ: Long Tiger jailed 12 months for fleeing police custody

       His lawyer Datuk Shaharudin Ali said the magistrate made the order after both the prosecution and defence made their lengthy oral submissions as to the effect of the untimely death of the prosecution's star witness, Luqman Hakeem Othman, in the middle of the trial.

       “The defence has yet to complete its examination of the said witness,” he added.

       ALSO READ: ‘Long Tiger' was looking to flee to neighbouring country, say police

       Abdul Hamim, 32, was represented by Shaharudin and Azfar Azmi, while deputy public prosecutor Nor Syamilah Jalaluddin prosecuted the case.

       The accused is still serving a one-year imprisonment for staging a daring escape from the court lockup last year.

       ALSO READ: 'Long Tiger' caught in Kedah, another arrested for aiding the fugitive

       He made headlines when he escaped from police custody after being arrested for an offence under Section 388 of the Penal Code for extortion.

       He escaped through the main gate of the court at 11.55am on Dec 15 while waiting for his case to begin and was rearrested in Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Dec 28.