SHAH ALAM, April 23 (Bernama) -- The High Court discharged and acquitted two policemen here Monday following their appeal against a Sessions Court conviction and sentence in May last year.

Judge Datuk Siti Mariah Ahmad found that the Sessions Court judge had erred in facts and law when convicting Constable K.Vellu, 30, and L Cpl K.Murali, 30 on a bribery charge, allegedly committed seven years ago.

In her judgment Siti Mariah also noted that there were contradictions between the charges and testimonies of prosecution witnesses.

"The court feels it is unsafe to convict both the accused. Therefore the court allows their appeal, acquits and discharges them," she said.

On May 4, the Sessions Court sentenced Vellu and Murali to two years in prison and fined them RM25,000 and RM15,000 respectively upon conviction of receiving and conspiring to receive bribes from an Indian national at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters in January 2005.