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A 55-YEAR-OLD father of three appeared in the Taiping Sessions Court on Tuesday, charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a surau caretaker using a parang in an attack at Kamunting last week.
Kamarulzaman Kamarudin pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Judge Noor Sakinah Haroon Arashid.
He is accused of deliberately inflicting serious injuries on 68-year-old Normuda Mohd Noor at Surau Nurul Hidayah, Kampung Bukit Jana, at around 2.30pm on 10 December.
The offence falls under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as potential fines or whipping if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Syuhada Muhammad Lutfi proposed bail of RM15,000 with conditions preventing the accused from approaching the victim and requiring monthly police reporting.
Represented by Puteri Hikmatul Raudah Dzulaikha Mohamad from the National Legal Aid Foundation, Kamarulzaman requested a lower bail, citing his RM50-a-day self-employment income, divorce, and responsibility for three children.
His lawyer also requested that he be referred for psychiatric treatment, noting three prior hospitalisations.
The court ultimately granted bail at RM8,000 with one surety and the stipulated conditions. The case is set for mention again on 29 January 2026.
Police investigations revealed the suspect attacked the elderly caretaker repeatedly on the head and hands with a parang.
Authorities believe the motive stemmed from personal dissatisfaction with the victim. Kamarulzaman was apprehended by Taiping District Police Investigation officers at around 4.30pm on the same day, near the scene of the crime.
During proceedings, Kamarulzaman reportedly told the court, “I want to go to a mental hospital,” highlighting his mental health concerns. - December 16, 2025