The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today upheld the acquittal of former Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) student Muhdalena Ahmad on charges of criminal intimidation and possession of a weapon during an amok incident in the compound of the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya three years ago.

Judge Kamardin Hashim made the decision after dismissing an appeal by the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff, against a lower court’s decision in acquitting Muhdalena of the charges.

In his judgment, Kamardin said the appeal by the prosecution had no merit and that the decision handed down by the Putrajaya Sessions Court on June 19 last year was apt and right.

“The decision by the presiding judge was right in acquitting the respondent (Muhdalena) on all the charges and in applying Section 348 of the Criminal Procedure Code to order her to be detained at the Permai Hospital, Tampoi, Johor Baru, at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“As such, the appeal is dismissed and the decision of the Putrajaya Sessions Court judge is upheld,” he added.

Kamardin said the court also concurred with the findings of the Sessions Court judge that there was strong and sufficient evidence that the respondent was of unsound mind when she committed the alleged offences.

On June 19 last year, the Putrajaya Sessions Court acquitted Muhdalena of four offences under Section 506 of the Penal Code and Section 7 of the Corrosive, Explosive Substances and Dangerous Weapons Act.

The Sessions Court found the woman mentally unstable during the incident and ordered her to be detained at Hospital Permai Tampoi, Johor at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The four charges were criminal intimidation with intent to cause grievous hurt to auxiliary police personnel Corporal Ridzuan Megat Ahmad at Complex ‘B’ JPM on July 9, 2012; possession of a weapon; defying Ridzuan’s order to lay down the weapon; and failing to follow advice to get a pass or permit before entering the premises, a restricted area.

Muhdalena, who has three children, was present in court today and accompanied by family members and a medical officer. She was represented by lawyer M Visvanathan.

- Bernama