Former Perak Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who was charged with defaming Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was discharged and acquitted by the Sessions Court here after he gave an open apology to the Prime Minister.

Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin made the decision after Head of the Perak State Prosecution Unit Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim informed that the PM had agreed that the case be compounded under Section 260 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Ikmal Hishan ordered the Changkat Jering state assemblyman to read the apology in court to make it easier for him to note it in the proceeding records of the case.

Mohammad Nizar then apologised openly and said he realised that his remarks about Najib, as mentioned in the charge, were baseless.

"As such, I, in all sincerity, wish to apologise to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and give my word that I will be more careful so that this does not happen again," he said.

Earlier, Yusaini Amer said the Prime Minister received a letter of apology from Mohammad Nizar on Oct 22.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agreed that the case be compounded, with permission from the court, and asked that Mohammad Nizar give an open apology, and he is ready to accept the apology," he said.

Mohammad Nizar, 58, whose address was in Sungai Rokam here, was charged with defaming Najib in a speech given in public at Taman Desa Pakatan here, between 9pm and midnight on April 23, 2012.

The former Perak PAS Deputy Commissioner was allegedly aware that the contents of the speech transcript in Appendix A, which was attached to the charge sheet, would damage Najib's good name.

He was charged under Section 500 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years or fine, or both, if found guilty.

On Jan 13, the Sessions Court discharged without acquitting Mohammad Nizar from a charge of defaming Najib after allowing a preliminary objection by the defence led by Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden Mohd Yusof over the complainant in the case.