Court orders psych evaluation for man accused of pushing lover off 23rd floor

V Nathan faces the death penalty or up to 40 years in jail and a whipping if convicted of murdering his girlfriend. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The magistrates’ court in Shah Alam has ordered a man charged with murdering his lover by pushing her off the 23rd floor of a condominium complex to undergo psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta.

V Nathan’s lawyer, R Sivahnanthan, made an application to the court for a mental evaluation to ascertain if his client was fit to stand trial.

Sivahnanthan made the application after learning that his client had shown difficulty following instructions and cooperating in the proceedings for the murder charge he is facing.

“I also received a memo from Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), Klang (submitted to the court) stating that the accused is suffering from pneumocranium, periorbital hematoma, as well as multiple lacerations and abrasions.

“These issues stem from a motorcycle accident in April 2018 which resulted in internal bleeding in the head.

“Therefore, I am making an application under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code for my client to undergo an examination to ascertain whether he is fit to stand trial or otherwise,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

Magistrate Redza Azhar Rezali granted the order and asked for the accused to undergo the psychiatric evaluation within a month before the case re-mention on June 7.

Nathan, a 37-year-old lorry driver, was charged in the magistrates’ court in Shah Alam last month with murdering his girlfriend.

No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to the charge sheet, Nathan is accused of murdering Thai national Mawika Lumyai, 32, at Trefoil @ Setia City in Setia Alam at about 10pm on Feb 28.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or up to 40 years in jail and a whipping, upon conviction.