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SHAH ALAM – The High Court today acquitted and discharged a 15-year-old boy of the charge of murdering a female student at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, last year after finding that he was of unsound mind at the time of the incident.
Judge Adlin Abdul Majid then ordered the teenager to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, from today for a period to be approved by the Sultan of Selangor.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, the teenager’s lawyer Kitson Foong said the court found that his client was of unsound mind when the incident occurred in October 2025.
“The respondent (the teenage boy) was found to be of unsound mind at the hour, date and time of the incident in October (2025). Accordingly, the defence successfully raised Section 84 of the Penal Code. The court recorded an acquittal on the ground of insanity,” he said at a press conference after the proceedings.
He said the court’s findings established medical insanity, which led to a finding of legal insanity in relation to his client.
Foong said the court also accepted the testimony of Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, who confirmed that the teenager was suffering from severe and aggressive schizophrenia.
“The schizophrenia caused him to lose his sense of self. He believed he was a god. He said he heard voices and instructions from someone. The prosecution did not dispute this,” he said.
He said the teenager would begin receiving treatment for the disorder, adding that the recovery process would take time.
The lawyer said the judge had reminded the teenager to recognise that his actions had resulted in the loss of a life and to be grateful for the second chance given to him.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 11 witnesses, while two defence witnesses, including the teenager himself, gave evidence.
The teenager was accused of murdering his schoolmate in a female students’ toilet at a national secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20am and 9.35am on Oct 14, 2025.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and whipping of not more than 12 strokes if the death penalty is not imposed.
However, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on a person under 18.
Instead, under Section 97(2) of the same Act, the court may order the person to be detained for a period approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Ahmad Iqbal Azman appeared for the prosecution.
As the teenager is still a minor, his identity cannot be disclosed and his photograph cannot be taken. The entire proceedings were conducted in closed court.
The teenager pleaded not guilty in February after the charge was read to him again in Mandarin before Judge Adlin. –BERNAMA
