The High Court today ordered a woman accused of having strangled her two children to be sent to a mental hospital at the pleasure of the Penang Yang Dipertua Negri after finding her not guilty due to depression and mental incapacity.

Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Mohd Yassin ordered that Rosniza Ibrahim, 30, undergo the treatment at Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak.

Rosniza, of Kuala Kurau, Perak, had been charged with the murder of Muhammad Alif Hakimi Idris, six, and Muhammad Alif Hazimi, two, by strangling them at their house in Taman Indah, Lebuh Batu Maung 8, Bayan Lepas, at about 11pm on Feb 18, 2007.

“It was the accused who had committed the act but the court finds the accused not guilty by reason of mental incapacity.

“The accused was under serious depression between 2000 and 2007 owing to family problems and with her husband wanting to marry again,” Mohd Zaki said in his judgment.

Mohd Zaki said Rosniza was always under pressure and, as a result, she remained in isolation, did not venture out of the house, did not talk to neighbours, felt isolated, was confused, lost faith in God and lost confidence in herself.

“The extreme emotional pressure drove her to beat herself often with a piece of rubber hose,” he said.

Forensic psychiatric consultant Dr Rabiah Mohd Salleh of Hospital Bahagia had testified that Rosniza was suffering from severe depression when she underwent treatment from March 2 to April 30, 2007.

Rosniza was represented by counsel K. Simon Murali while deputy public prosecutor Arik Zakaria Abdul Kader appeared for the prosecution.

Rosniza, clad in a long-sleeved grey T-shirt and dark blue sports pants, wept and hugged family members as she emerged from the courtroom.

- Bernama