MUAR: An unemployed man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to assaulting and kicking his mother until the woman sustained severe injuries on her body, and fracturing her finger, last week.
Wong Hoe Yang, 40, claimed trial after the charges were read to him before judge Irwan Suainbon.
According to the charge sheet, Wong was accused of intentionally causing hurt to his 70-year-old mother, a single mother, at a house in Tangkak between 3.30am and 4am on July 16.
He was charged under Section 325 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the Act, for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Arif Marzuki did not offer bail after taking into consideration the safety of the accused's mother, since the two were living in the same house.
Wong, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency.
"I am poor. I have psy (psychological disorders)," the accused told the court.
The court later set bail at RM10,000 in one surety and fixed Aug 20 for mention to allow submissions of documents and to give time to the accused to appoint a lawyer.
The accused, however, was unable to post bail. He was then sent to the Muar Correctional Rehabilitation Centre.
Based on the police report, the incident happened when the victim and the accused were sleeping in the same room before the latter allegedly started hitting, kicking and assaulting his mother.
Prior to the incident, the accused was said to have had a disagreement with his mother, which escalated into the unexpected attack.
The accused is also alleged to have covered his mother's mouth while assaulting her to prevent her screams from being heard by neighbours.
The victim, however, managed to escape and seek help from the public the following day after her son went out to buy breakfast.