KUALA LUMPUR: An obstetrician and gynaecologist was acquitted and discharged by a Sessions Court here for causing the death of Datuk Syed Alman Syed Alwi two years ago.

Syed Alman was the son-in-law of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Judge Zaman Mohd Noor handed down the decision after the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against Dr Ting Teck Chin, 38.

He said based on guideline, anyone who was not an anaesthetist could administer sedation up till a moderate level.

He ruled that it was up to the prosecution to prove that the victim was allergic to certain medicines and that it was not the accused's duty to prove at this level.

"Hence, I acquit and discharge the accused without defence being called," he said Friday (Aug 10).

A total of 25 prosecution witnesses were called to testify in the trial which began early last year.

Dr Ting was charged with causing the death of Syed Alman on June 1, 2016 and was accused under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

He allegedly committed the offence between 6pm and 9.05pm at the Imperial Dental Specialist Centre in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru here.

The Star reported that Syed Alman, 44, fell unconscious while undergoing surgery at the centre.

He was rushed to University Malaya Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead.

Met after the decision, Deputy Public Prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar said he would seek further instruction whether to file an appeal or not.

Dr Ting was represented by Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Dev Kumaraendran.