Muhdalena didapati bersalah, dihantar ke institusi mental utk rawatan.

NIXAR · Post time 19-6-2014 03:40 PM

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Published: Thursday June 19, 2014 MYT 1:43:00 PM
Updated: Thursday June 19, 2014 MYT 3:07:17 PM
Woman who ran amok in Putrajaya found guilty but spared jail due to insanity
by qishin tariq

Muhdalena being escorted out of court by police.

PUTRAJAYA: Muhdalena Ahmad, who was on trial for running amok with a samurai sword in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya, was ordered to be sent to a mental institution after the Sessions Court on Thursday found her to be of unsound mind.

Judge Mohamed Kamil Nizam ruled that Muhdalena suffered from psychotic depression, which made her unable to know that her actions were against the law.

Invoking Section 348 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Judge Mohamed Kamil ordered that Muhdalena be kept in safe custody at Hospital Permai, Johor, where she will be held pending orders from the Ruler of the State.

Though Muhdalena was not given a custodial sentence, the court still found her guilty of the four charges brought against her.

“During her testimony, the accused did not deny the charges, in fact she confessed to being at the location of the crime and to holding a sword at the time. The defence also failed to deny the charges,” said Judge Mohamed Kamil, convicting Muhdahlena of all four charges.

Muhdalena, 30, was accused of committing criminal intimidation by threatening to cause grievous hurt to a policeman, for possession of a sword, and two additional charges under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959.

Speaking to reporters in the courtroom, Muhdalena said she would take the decision positively as she did not feel it was a punishment.

“I’m grateful not to be sent to prison. At the hospital I can get counseling,” she said, adding that she was currently on medication.

The mother of two said her husband and mother would help take care of her kids while she was getting treatment.

Muhdalena and her partner Khalil Afendi shocked the country when they ran amok while wielding samurai swords outside the PM’s Department, on July 9 2012.

Both were shot by police. Khalil died at Putrajaya Hospital after succumbing to injuries.