Kota Kinabalu: A former mechanic was freed from a charge of stealing 12 bottles of engine oil belonging to Angkatan Hebat.

Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus acquitted and discharged Mclaurin Lothar, 28, without calling for his defence yesterday.

In her reserved ruling, the court held that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the man.

Mclaurin, who was defended by counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin, was alleged to have stolen the items at the company's spare parts store on April 8, 2017.

The charge was framed under section 381 of the Penal Code which is punishable by a jail term of up to seven years and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

The prosecution had called three witnesses to testify against the man since the trial commenced on June 21, 2017. - (c) The Borneo Post