Court frees singer Yasin of drug charges, orders him admitted to Hospital Bahagia

Muhammad Yasin giving the thumbs-up to photographers outside court on Nov 29. – BERNAMApic

PETALING JAYA: The Sessions Court here has acquitted and discharged nasyid singer and composer Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman on three drug charges.

However, judge Faiz Dziyauddin ordered Muhammad Yasin, 48, to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor.

When handing out the decision, Faiz said that after examining the testimony of the prosecution and defence witnesses, the court found that the accused had committed the acts as stated in the three charges.

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"However, the court decided that the accused be acquitted and discharged of all the charges on the grounds that during the incident, as alleged on March 24, 2022, the accused was in an unsound mental state even though he was aware of his actions.

"Nevertheless, the symptoms of 'mania' (unstable emotions) experienced by the accused at that time caused cognitive impairment to such a severe level that the accused was unable to know that the act was wrong and against the law.

"Thus, in accordance with Section 348 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court hereby rules that the accused be placed under safe custody at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor as provided under Section 348(2) of the law,” he said.

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Soon after the judge handed down the decision, Muhammad Yasin who was clad in a black T-shirt, was seen hugging his family members.

The Mimpi Laila singer was charged with self-administration of the drug 11-nor-delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid at the Narcotics Office of the Petaling Jaya District Headquarters at 11.05pm on March 24 last year.

The charge, framed under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and punishable under Section 15(1) of the same Act, carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of two years if convicted.

He was also charged with possessing cannabis-type drugs weighing 193.7g and cultivating 17 cannabis plants in plastic pots at his residence at Persiaran Surian Damansara Indah Resort Homes, PJU 3, Kota Damansara here at 5.30pm on the same date.

The charge, framed under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act and punishable under Section 39A(2) of the same Act, carries a penalty of life imprisonment or not less than five years and whipping of no fewer than 10 strokes; as well as Section 6B(1)(a) of the same law which is punishable under Section 6B(3), which carries a penalty of life imprisonment and whipping of no fewer than six strokes if convicted.

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Prosecution was handled by DPPs Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin and Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, while Muhammad Yasin was represented by Ariff Azami Hussein.

On Sept 15, the prosecution closed its case after calling seven witnesses in the trial, which began on Aug 28.

One defence witness was called to testify.

When met after the proceedings, Muhammad Yasin said he was thankful that the court freed him of the drug charges.

"For 20 months, I have been in and out of court. Alhamdulillah, today ended well and I will not be back here.

"Now I have to go back to (Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta) to continue my treatment for bipolar disorder," he said.

"After that, I will apply to be allowed to return to my hometown," said the singer.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Yasin's brother Zain Sulaiman, 51, said he would continue to support his younger sibling throughout the hospital stay.

"Distance is not a problem, the important thing is that he gets treatment. We are not worried because we know he is being looked after and getting treatment by specialists," said Zain who also attended the court proceedings with several close relatives. – Bernama