KUALA LUMPUR: A jobless man, who was previously jailed four months and fined RM1,000 for stealing a handphone at Low Yat Plaza, has been granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal over a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to a mechanic.

Magistrate Nur A’minahtul Mardiah Md Nor granted Shahrul Anuar Abdul Aziz, 23, and his friend Muhammad Shameer Zaidi, 19, the discharge after mechanic Hamizan Hamzah informed the court that he did not wish to continue with his testimony.

Hamizan, 25, told the court Friday that he did not want to trouble his family members to come to court when there were proceedings and that no one had forced him to decide against continuing to testify in the case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mohd Ashif said the prosecution was willing to proceed with the trial but said that it was up to the court to decide on the matter.

The accused allegedly slashed Hamizan, 25, on the head with a machete, with two other individuals still at large in front of a workshop, Mizan Racing Tuned in Jalan Jelatek in Kuala Lumpur at 3.30am on Feb 20.

Counsel Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz acted for Shahrul Anuar.