THE Kota Baru High Court today found an employed man who was charged with the murder of a retired policeman not guilty on the grounds that he was of unsound mind.

Judicial commissioner Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, instead, ordered Mohd Rozani Yahaya, 43, to be placed at Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Perak.

He said based on the testimony of medical experts, the accused was not mentally sound during the incident on January 25, 2018.

“The court finds the accused not guilty because at the time of the incident, it was proved that he was of unsound mind,” he said.

“Therefore, the court issued an order under section 348(2) of the criminal procedure code for Rozani to be placed under the safe custody of Hospital Bahagia, near Ulu Kinta, Perak at the pleasure of the Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V.”

Rozani was charged with murdering Ab Halim Che Yusoff, 69, in Kampung Apa-Apa, Bunut Susu in Pasir Mas, at about noon on January 25, 2018.

The charge was framed under section 302 of the penal code, which provides for the death sentence upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Khairul Anuar Wahab prosecuted while Rozani was represented by lawyer Zameri Mat Nawang. – Bernama, March 15, 2022.