KUALA KANGSAR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- The Magistrates' Court here has ordered a 15-year-old boy with multiple disabilities, accused of causing the death of his mother, who was also disabled, to be referred to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta for a psychiatric examination.
Magistrate Azlin Zeti Zainal Abidin issued the order after finding that the teenager had a record of mental illness and did not understand the charge read to him.
According to the charge, the teenager is accused of committing an act that caused the death of Nor Ainon Omar, 49, with the intention of causing death, thereby committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The act was allegedly committed in Kampung Cheh Kati in Kuala Kangsar at 2.10 pm on Sept 23.
The teenager is charged under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and may also include a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Mirza Zulaikha Mohd Fadzly applied for the accused, who was unrepresented, to be referred to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
During the proceedings, the magistrate asked the accused who he had come to court with, but the accused remained silent.
"As the court has been informed that the accused has a mental health record, I will not record any plea. The court issues an order for him to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta for examination under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code," said the magistrate.
The court then fixed Oct 22 for the next mention of the case and submission of psychiatric report.
On Sept 23, a 49-year-old disabled woman was found dead, lying in a pool of blood in the living room of her house in Kampung Cheh Kati, Kuala Kangsar.
Police subsequently remanded the accused's 44-year-old father for seven days, while the teenager was remanded for two days to assist in the investigation.
-- BERNAMA