PETALING JAYA: Borders staff Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz (pic) can now heave a sigh of relief after the Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) finally dropped its prosecution against the bookstore manager over the sale of a banned book.

Nik Raina's lawyer, Roslan Dahlan told The Star Online said they have received a letter dated May 11 from Jawi, informing them that the religious body would withdraw their appeal against the Syariah High Court's decision in February to discharge her.

"The letter did not cite any reasons for its withdrawal, but we have to take this matter positively," he said, adding that the letter was issued by Federal Territory Chief Sharie Prosecutor Mohammad Adib Husain.

He said he would take the new development in a good faith, as Jawi director Paimuzi Yahya has been accommodating with Borders’ requests.

"We requested to meet him some time last week to discuss this matter and he seemed to be very open and sympathetic with our ordeal. We have to appreciate him," he said.

The decision came a week after Borders' legal team threatened to cite Jawi for contempt of court if they pursue the case.

Nik Raina, 39, was arrested in 2012 before the ban on Irshad Manji's "Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta" (Allah, Freedom and Love) book took place and later charged her over the selling of the Malay translation.

On Feb 26, the Syariah High Court ordered a discharge not amounting to acquittal for Nik Raina.

The Borders Mid Valley branch manager was charged under Section 13 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 in June 2012 for the offence of "disseminating and distributing" by way of selling the books deemed contrary to Islamic law.

On Dec 30 last year, the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya ruled that Jawi's seizure of the books was unlawful.

Attempts to get Paimuzi for comments have been unsuccessful.