GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here today acquitted and discharged five men for the death of T. Nhaveen, who was allegedly killed due to violent bullying in 2017.

Judge Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid ordered S. Gopinaath, 32, J. Ragesuthan, 24, and S. Gokulan, 24, and two others, who were juveniles at the time of the incident, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie at the end of the prosecution's case.

He said the court found that there were conflicting versions in the witness statements regarding several incidents and also the failure by the prosecution to call an important witness in the case, who is the victim's friend known as Preevin.

"The prosecution was also unable to prove the accused's intention to jointly kill or injure the victim, while the credibility of the witnesses called was highly doubted by the court.

"The court has examined, considered and evaluated this case...therefore all five accused are acquitted and discharged," said the judge.

The five friends who were in the dock were seen hugging each other after hearing the verdict.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering Nhaveen near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11 pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.

They were also charged under Section 326 of the same law with voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons on Nhaveen, 18, at the same place, date and time.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Azhar Hamzah, while lawyer Datuk Naran Singh represented Gopinaath, Ragesuthan and Gokulan, and lawyers Maanveer Singh Dhillon and Yagoo Subramaniam represented the two juveniles.

-- BERNAMA