The lawyer of Perth man Dominic Bird is trying to get him home within hours after he was acquitted in a Malaysian court on drug-trafficking charges that carry a mandatory death penalty.
The 33-year-old, originally from the southern suburb of Success, was expecting closing submissions in the Kuala Lumpur High Court case on Wednesday.
But he got a verdict in his favour, with Justice Kamardin Hashim finding the prosecution failed to prove its case and the defence raised reasonable doubt.
Mr Bird had been accused of supplying 167 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in Kuala Lumpur on March 1 last year.
But the defence team argued he had been set up by Inspector Luther Nurjib – the prosecution’s star witness – who was last week found guilty of contempt of court for threatening and attempting to bribe another witness.
Insp Nurjib could face further charges.
Mr Bird’s lawyer Tania Scivetti said her client was excited at the prospect of going home – possibly within hours.
“I’m going to try my best to get him back home before dinner,” she told Fairfax Radio.
Ms Scivetti told AAP she was still with immigration officials trying to sort out his visa at 9am local time.
She also said she didn’t expect the prosecution would appeal the verdict.
“I would be very surprised if the prosecution appeals in this case in light of Inspector Luther’s evidence,” she said.
Mr Bird’s other lawyer, Muhammed Shafee, said he was completely convinced of his client’s innocence.
Any appeal would need to be lodged by September 14.
“We are still considering whether or not to appeal,” prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told AAP.
“We have 10 days to decide.”
If an appeal is lodged and Mr Bird isn’t able to renew his visa – which expired while he was in custody – he may be detained again.
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