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A 15-YEAR-OLD student accused of killing his 16-year-old schoolmate in a school toilet in Bandar Utama last October has been deemed fit to stand trial following a three-month psychiatric evaluation.
The assessment, conducted by Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, concluded that the teenager is capable of understanding court proceedings and mounting a defence, according to defence lawyer Kitson Foong.
The psychiatric report, prepared by the hospital’s director Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, was presented to magistrate Amira Sariaty Zainal during a case mention today.
“The psychiatric expert concluded that the accused is capable and fit to plead, stand trial and conduct his defence. That is the most important consideration in the court process.
“With this finding, the case will proceed in court,” Foong told reporters after the proceedings.
Following the report, the magistrate ordered that the boy be placed at the Puncak Alam Correctional Centre.
However, the court allowed him to leave the facility once a month to continue counselling and therapy.
The court also directed that his current medication and treatment regime be maintained, and that he be taken for monthly dental appointments related to his braces.
Foong said further case management has been fixed for Feb 6 to allow the prosecution time to conduct a detailed review of the investigation papers, which now include the completed psychiatric, forensic and post-mortem reports.
“At this stage, the documentation is complete for the prosecution’s review. The psychiatric report, forensic report and post-mortem findings have all been finalised.
“The key consideration is that the accused can understand the court proceedings and effectively defend himself when the trial begins,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin and Aqharia Durranie Aziz appeared for the prosecution. The proceedings were conducted in the presence of the accused, who was brought to the courtroom this morning from the hospital in Perak. This marked his second appearance before the court.
The teenager was first produced in court on Oct 22, when he was charged with murder over an alleged stabbing incident that occurred on Oct 14. He is accused of killing his schoolmate in the girls’ toilet of SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) between 9.20am and 9.35am. The victim was identified as remove class student Yap Shing Xuen.
No plea was recorded, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty, or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and 12 strokes of the rotan upon conviction.
Court proceedings were closed to the media as the accused is a juvenile and cannot be publicly identified. He was brought into the courtroom through an internal route closed to the public, and no photographs or video recordings were permitted.
Magistrate Amira Sariaty had earlier ordered the psychiatric evaluation after allowing an application by the boy’s former lawyer, Anwar Ezzad Zainal, under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which applies when an accused person is suspected of being of unsound mind. The court later granted two separate one-month extensions to allow Dr Lloyd additional time to assess the boy and complete his report. - January 16, 2026