Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Court on Friday extended by another month the psychiatric observation of a 71-year-old man charged with murdering his 44-year-old former fiancée, whose dismembered remains were found in a communal bin at Taman Indah Permai, Sepanggar.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus allowed the extension after the prosecution informed the court that the psychiatric report on Piluta Samad (pic) was still pending and applied for a further one-month observation period at Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang.
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The court fixed June 25 for further mention pending completion of the psychiatric report.
Piluta was not brought to court during the proceedings.
Defence counsel Datuk Ram Singh raised no objection to the extension and said the defence hoped to apply for the transfer of the case to the High Court at the next mention date.
Piluta is charged with the murder of an undocumented Hamidah Husin @ Lisa on Feb 11, between 6pm and 7pm, at a house in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar, here.
The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane, if not sentenced to death, on conviction.
On April 15, the Magistrate ordered Piluta to undergo 30 days’ psychiatric observation at Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang following an application by Ram.
Piluta was first brought to the Magistrate’s Court on Feb 27 this year.
However, no plea was taken from him as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah, prosecuting, stood in for Deputy Public Prosecutor Kareena Kaur Gill Karamjit Singh.
Together with Ram in representing the accused are counsel Joan Goh, Ian Vun and Prem Elmer Ganasan.
