Bandar utama: 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. Judge Adlin Abdul Majid then ordered the teenage boy to be placed at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak, beginning today, for a period to be approved by the Sultan of Selangor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the teenager's lawyer Kitson Foong explained that the court found his client to be of unsound mind at the time of the incident. "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.
Foong highlighted that the court's findings established medical insanity, leading to a conclusion of legal insanity for his client. He added that the court accepted the testimony of Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Dr. Ian Lloyd Anthony, who confirmed 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," Foong noted.
The lawyer mentioned that the teenager would start receiving treatment for his disorder, acknowledging that the recovery process would be lengthy. He also stated that the judge reminded the teenager to recognize the consequences of his actions and be grateful for the second chance provided to him.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses, while two defense witnesses, including the teenager, testified. The teenager faced accusations of murdering his schoolmate in a female student's toilet at a national secondary school in Bandar Utama between 9.20 am and 9.35 am on October 14, 2025.
Charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the teenager faced the possibility of the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, along with up to 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death. However, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 prevents the imposition of the death penalty on individuals under 18, allowing the court to order detention 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 represented the prosecution. Due to the teenager's minor status, his identity and photograph cannot be disclosed, and the proceedings were conducted in a closed court. On February 12 last year, the teenager pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him again in Mandarin before Judge Adlin.