SHAH ALAM: The High Court has 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.
Judge Justice Adlin Abdul Majid ordered the teenager to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, 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 at the time of the incident.
“Accordingly, the defence successfully raised Section 84 of the Penal Code. The court recorded an acquittal on the ground of insanity,” he said after the proceedings yesterday.
He said the court’s findings established medical insanity, which gave rise to a finding of legal insanity in respect of his client, Bernama reported.
Foong told the media that 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 the claim,” he said.
He said the teenager would begin receiving treatment for the disorder and noted 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, provided 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 liability to whipping of not more than 12 strokes if not sentenced to death.
However, Section 97(1) of the Child Act stipulates that the death penalty shall not be imposed on a person under the age of 18.
Instead, the court may order the individual to be detained for a period approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri, as provided under Section 97(2) of the same Act.
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.
On Feb 12, the teenager pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him again in Mandarin before Justice Adlin.
