KOTA KINABALU, May 16 — The Magistrates’ Court here has allowed a one-month extension for the mental evaluation of a fishmonger charged with murdering a woman, whose body parts were found at a communal rubbish bin in Indah Permai Sepanggar last February.

Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus granted the application for Piluta Samad, 71, after the prosecution informed the court that his psychiatric report was not ready.

The prosecution had requested ample time for further evaluation.

On April 15, Piluta was referred to Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang for a 30-day observation after the Magistrate allowed an application made by his legal team under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Piluta’s legal team led by Datuk Ram Singh raised no objection to the extension request.

The court then fixed June 25 for further mention of the case and ordered for Piluta, who was not in court today, to be further detained in custody pending disposal of the case.

Prosecuting officer Insp Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah stood in for deputy public prosecutor Kareena Kaur Gill Karamjit Singh, while Piluta’s legal team also included counsel Joan Goh, Ian Vun, and Prem Elmer Ganasan.

Piluta has been charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death sentence or a jail term of up to 40 years and if not sentenced to death, the offender is liable to a maximum 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

He is accused of murdering 44-year-old Hamidah Husin @ Lisa, an undocumented resident, at an unnumbered house in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar at 7pm on Feb 11.

It was reported that on Feb 12, that Hamidah’s body was dismembered and then discarded at the site.

A man believed to be her fiancé was arrested on the same day. — The Borneo Post

PETALING JAYA, May 14 — A babysitter was charged in the Magistrates’ Court today with murdering a seven-month-old baby boy at a nursery in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, earlier this month.

Balqish Mohammad Dzyhan, 28, nodded to indicate she understood the charge after it was read out before Magistrate Farah Azura Mohd Saad.

No plea was recorded, however, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court. The court then set July 14 for the next mention.

The woman is accused of causing the death of Muhammad Eiden Faheem Mohammed Nor Syafiq at a nursery in Kinrara Commercial Unit, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, between 9.30am and 10.40am on May 5.

She was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or, upon conviction, a prison term of between 30 and 40 years, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

Deputy public prosecutor Ainul Athirah Jamalullail appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Datuk Suraj Singh represented the accused.

Also present was lawyer Nur Syakirah Nor Azam Shah, who acted as a watching brief for the victim’s family. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA, May 14 — Singer Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, was today acquitted by the magistrates’ court of two drug charges.

As reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the decision came after the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) accepted his second representation to drop the charges.

Magistrate Khairunnisak Hassni granted the acquittal following confirmation from the prosecution.

Last month, the AGC had rejected Wee’s initial representation to withdraw the charges under Section 9(1) of the Poisons Act 1952 and Section 39A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

In January, the 43-year-old pleaded not guilty to possessing 0.78g of sildenafil under the Poisons Act 1952 and an amended charge of possessing 1.57g of methamphetamine under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Prosecutors alleged the substances were found in his possession at a hotel near Jalan Conlay at about 4.30pm on October 22 last year.

Sildenafil is a controlled substance that may only be held with a valid prescription under the Poisons Act.

The case gained wider attention after Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh Yu-hsin, 31, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur on the same day while reportedly working on a video project with Wee.