A Sessions Court here has ordered a property agent charged with attempting to murder a single mother by stabbing her in the neck to undergo psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak.
Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini granted the application filed by defence lawyer Mohd. Hakim Hamran during court proceedings on Tuesday.
The accused, Muhammad Ilhami Badaruddin, 32, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge and requested a full trial.
During submissions, the defence informed the court that Muhammad Ilhami had a history of mental health issues and was receiving psychiatric treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB).
The lawyer requested an order under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code to allow the accused to undergo psychiatric assessment and treatment at Hospital Bahagia.
According to the defence, the accused had been receiving regular psychiatric care before the incident and continued taking prescribed medication throughout the remand period.
The court was also told that Muhammad Ilhami suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and occasionally hears voices.
The defence argued that the psychiatric evaluation was necessary to ensure the accused was mentally fit to understand proceedings and properly defend himself during trial.
Under the charge, Muhammad Ilhami, who is reportedly divorced, is accused of attempting to murder Nurul Husna Kasmani, 35, by stabbing her in the neck with a knife at the parking area of a restaurant in Titi Gajah, Kepala Batas, at around 9.19pm on May 17.
The case is being prosecuted under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine upon conviction.
If the act causes injury, the offender may face up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The prosecution team is led by state prosecution director Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim alongside deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Fahmi Kamaluddin and Vatchira Wong Rui Fern.
The court denied bail and fixed July 2 for the next mention of the case.
Before proceedings began, the accused was seen shaking hands and kissing the hands of his parents who attended court, while a man believed to be his close friend was reportedly seen crying inside the courtroom.
