KUALA LUMPUR: An "A-Level" student claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court today to stabbing her father with a knife at their family home five days ago.
Private college student Lum Kar Yee, 18, was accused of stabbing her father Lum Su Hai, 45, at the house at Taman Desa Bakti here around 10.30am on Nov 22.
Clad in a black tee-shirt and purple lock-up pants, Kar Yee looked dazed and frazzled when the charge was read in Mandarin to her by the court's interpreter. She shook her head to indicate she pleaded not guilty.
She kept turning to look at her mother and relatives who were seated in the public gallery.
Deputy public prosecutor R. Siamalah applied for the court to impose RM4,000 bail.
Kar Yee's counsel Farhan Read informed the court that his client's family, including Su Hai who was recuperating, had forgiven her.
"We also want to know whether she is mentally-capable to stand trial and with that I ask the court to send her off for a mental evaluation under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code," said Farhan.
Section 342 empowers a magistrate to order an accused to undergo mental evaluation to ascertain whether an accused is mentally-fit to be tried for a criminal offence.
Magistrate Nur A'minahtul Mardiah Md Nor reminded Farhan that the power to withdraw the case lies with the prosecution, and not with the court.
She then set bail at RM2,500 with one surety, adding that it will only take effect after Kar Yee has undergone psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Tanjung Rambutan, Ipoh, Perak.
Nur A'minahtul set mention on Jan 11, next year.
Kar Yee faces a jail term not exceeding three years, fine, whipping or any of the two penalties, if convicted of causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon per Section 324 of the Penal Code.