PETRA JAYA: A former police lance corporal claimed he is mentally ill after pleading guilty at the Sessions Court to two counts of outraging the modesty of a Form 2 student.
During the proceedings, Fazlie Zainuddin, 33, pleaded guilty to molesting the victim, 14, at the guard post of the Sarawak police headquarters in Jalan Badruddin, Kuching, near here, between 2pm and 3pm on Sept 4.
The accused from Johor also admitted to performing sexual act with the student in front of a shopping complex in Batu Kawa near here between 3pm and 4pm on the same day.
Fazlie was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Crimes Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
The accused told the court interpreter that he is suffering from mental illness after the latter read to him the punishment provided in the Act.
Several policemen inside the courtroom, believed to be part of the investigation team for the case, looked puzzled when the accused made the admission about his mental health condition.
Judge Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad ordered the accused to undergo mental health evaluation assessment at the Sentosa Hospital for a month beginning Thursday to ascertain his claim.
She fixed Dec 15 as the date for the sentencing, pending the outcome of the accused’s psychiatric assessment report.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Haresh Prakash prosecuted while the accused, who is a widower, was unrepresented.