A security guard accused of savagely assaulting his 72-year-old mother, including allegedly attempting to gouge out her eyes, has asked the Sessions Court in Butterworth to drop the charges and send him to a psychiatric hospital instead.

Judge Nor Azah Kasran declined to record a plea after Afzar Rizal Adnan, 47, claimed he did not understand the charge read out by the court interpreter.

“I request for this case to be dropped. I don’t understand about using a knife and key (objects which were allegedly used in the attack).

“I also ask the honourable judge to send me to Hospital Bahagia for treatment because every five months I meet a specialist, but the investigating officer does not know my health condition,” he told the court, as reported by Malaysia Gazette.

Deputy public prosecutor Rifaie Mohamed initially applied for Afzar to be referred to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak for a month-long psychiatric evaluation under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

However, the application was withdrawn after investigating officer Syuhaikha Hamid testified that Afzar had fully cooperated during the probe and had confirmed to a doctor that he was not suffering from any psychiatric disorder.

“Throughout the investigation, the accused gave full cooperation to the investigating officer, and the prosecution believes the accused understands the charge but refuses or denies entering a plea,” the court heard.

Afzar’s charge was framed under Section 326 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A, which carries a punishment of up to 20 years’ jail, a fine, and caning.

According to the charge, the security guard is accused of intentionally causing grievous injuries to his mother using a knife and a key in the living room of their home at Flat Rumah Hijau, Mak Mandin, at 12.30pm on Sept 7.

Malaysia Gazette previously reported that a man was remanded after attacking his mother when she returned from a religious class.

The victim sustained serious injuries requiring stitches after being struck with a sharp object. Neighbours managed to rescue her before sending her to hospital, while the accused was arrested shortly after and tested positive for drugs.