A disabled teenager accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl at a mosque in Batang Kali in February has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak.
Defence lawyer Lingswaran Singh earlier asked the sessions court in Ampang to refer his client, Adam Haiqal Abdullah, for a psychiatric assessment as per Section 342(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He claimed that Adam, 19, was not fit to stand trial.
“Throughout interactions with the accused – as well as based on information from his mother, supported by a psychological assessment by a public university dated July 15, 2022 – the accused displayed behaviour and made statements that raised reasonable doubt.
“He is highly likely to be suffering from mental health issues and may be incapable of defending himself,” Lingswaran told the court today, Harian Metro reported.
Deputy public prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie said that all case-related documents had been handed over to the defence, except for the CCTV footage report and the victim’s medical report from Selayang Hospital.
Judge Norshila Kamaruddin then set July 22 for the next case mention.
Adam was charged on Feb 27 with committing physical sexual assault against the victim at the mosque, at 6.20am on Feb 12. He initially pleaded guilty but later claimed trial.
The charge, framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a whipping, upon conviction.
Adam has been kept in custody at the Puncak Alam correctional facility as his family cannot afford to pay his bail.
