By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Apr 27: A 25-year-old unemployed man charged with committing a sexual offence against a seven-year-old girl has been ordered by the Sessions Court here to undergo a psychiatric assessment.
Judge Musli Abdul Hamid made the ruling after allowing an application by defence lawyers, who raised concerns over the accused’s mental fitness to stand trial.
In his decision, the judge said he was not convinced that the accused was presently capable of defending himself based on the submissions presented in court.
He subsequently invoked Section 342(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code and directed that the accused be remanded at Hospital Sentosa Kuching for a month-long psychiatric observation starting from the date of the order.
The court set May 26, 2026, for further mention to review the psychiatric report to be prepared by the hospital’s medical director.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Asmawi Nur Haqim Mokhtar earlier informed the court that the prosecution did not object to the application and supported the request for further evaluation.
According to the charge, the accused allegedly touched the victim’s private parts in an incident near a roadside area at Riverbank along Jalan Batu Kawa Lama Moyan at about 12.20am on April 19, 2026.
He is charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
The accused is represented by lawyers Tim Low Yew How, Gabriel Koo and Chiam Xin Yuen. — DayakDaily
