Woman Charged With Assaulting Sultan Nazrin, Allowed To Undergo Psychiatric Evaluation

IPOH, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- A woman has been charged in the Magistrates’ Court here with committing criminal force against the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, during the state-level National Day celebration last month.

Nurshazwani Afni Mohamad Zorki, 41, nodded in understanding as the charge was read before Magistrate Mohd Harith Mohd Mazlan. However, no plea was recorded.

According to the charge sheet, Nurshazwani is accused of assaulting or using criminal force against Sultan Nazrin on the grandstand in front of the Ipoh City Council on Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab at 8.0 am on Aug 31.

She was charged under Section 352 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani requested that the charge be read without recording a plea, citing preliminary findings that the accused suffers from schizophrenia.

Nasrul Hadi also applied for Nurshazwani to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and observation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Tanjung Rambutan for a month under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He explained that the assessment was necessary to verify the accused’s mental condition and determine her fitness to plead and stand trial. The magistrate granted the application.

The accused was represented by lawyer M. Saravanan from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

-- BERNAMA