SHAH ALAM, Sept 14 - The High Court today acquitted and discharged a 15-year-old boy on the charge of murdering a girl at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, last year.
Judge Adlin Abdul Majid ordered the teenage boy be admitted to Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak, today, for a period to be approved by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, the teenager’s lawyer Kitson Foong said the court held that his client was of unsound mind at the time of the incident.
“The respondent 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 that there was medical insanity, which gave rise to a finding of legal insanity in respect of his client.
Foong said the court also accepted the testimony of Hospital Bahagia consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, who confirmed that the teenager was suffering from severe, 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 receive treatment for the disorder and noted that recovery would take time.
Foong said Adlin reminded the teenager to recognise that his actions had resulted in the loss of a life, and to be grateful for the second chance.
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 the female students’ toilet at a secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20am and 9.35am on October 14, 2025.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty, a prison term of between 30 and 40 years, and not more than 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death.
However, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 stipulates that the death penalty shall not be imposed on anyone under 18.
Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Ahmad Iqbal Azman appeared for the prosecution.
As the accused is a minor, his identity was not disclosed and his photograph not taken. The proceedings were conducted in closed court.
On February 12, the teenager pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him in Mandarin before Adlin.
