In finding Selvam not guilty, magistrate Mohamad Ibrahim Mohamad Ghulam said the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against the Indian national.
A total of 21 prosecution witnesses had testified during the course of the trial.
On July 9, 2014, Selvam claimed trial to a charge of reckless endangerment resulting in the death of Karpal and his aide – Indian national Michael Cornelius – when their vehicle collided with a lorry.
Selvam was said to have committed the offence while driving a vehicle with the registration number KS9898 at KM306.1 of the northbound lane of the North-South Expressway at about 12.40am on April 17 that year.
The offence under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act carries a maximum two-year jail and up to RM20,000 fine upon conviction.
When met outside the courtroom, 20-year-old Selvam told reporters he was extremely relieved that his problems were now over.
“I feel good. I’m very happy to be going home to see my family,” he said, breaking down in tears.
“I want to go home as soon as I can,” he added, before thanking his lawyer Baljit Singh, who had taken up the case pro bono, and Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan who had posted his bail and sheltered him over the past two years.
Selvam, however, kept mum when asked if he had any words for Karpal’s family.
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