JUDGMENT

The original charge preferred against the accused in this case in the magistrate's court at Melaka is as follows:

Bahawa kamu pada 6 Julai 1997 jam lebih kurang 7.25 pagi, di Batu 5 Lorong Sidang Hassan Bukit Katil Melaka, di dalam Daerah Melaka Tengah, di Negeri Melaka, telah melakukan rompakan ke atas Dengkil bte Taib KP3715812, dengan itu melakukan kesalahan di bawah s 392 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum di bawah peruntukan yang sama.

On 11 July 1997 when the accused appeared in court to answer the charge made against him, the prosecuting officer informed the court that there is reason to believe that the accused is not of sound mind and prayed that he be sent to a hospital for observation. The learned magistrate, in accordance with the provisions of s 342(iii) of the Criminal Procedure Code (FMS Cap 6) ('the CPC') ordered that the accused be sent for observation to a mental hospital for a period of one month in order to determine whether he is capable of making his defence. On 11 August 1997, the period of observation was extended for another one month on the application of the hospital authorities. On 10 September 1997, the prosecuting officer informed the court that the medical report on the accused had been received and requested for the case to be adjourned to refer the matter to the learned deputy public prosecutor. The court record reveals that the learned magistrate had himself received the medical report on the accused on 5 September 1997. The material parts of the report read as follows:

Penama di atas telah dimasukkan ke Hospital Permai pada 15 Julai 1997 di bawah perintah mahkamah s 342(iii) Kanun Acara Jenayah.

2 Beliau didapati menghidapi penyakit mental yang serious iaitu 'schizophrenia'.

3 Pada pendapat saya, ketika kejadian seperti yang didakwa, besar kemungkinan beliau berada di dalam keadaan mental yang tidak siuman.

4 Dengan rawatan yang diberikan, keadaan mentalnya ketika ini adalah stabil dan beliau dinasihatkan agar patuh menjalani rawatan ubat-ubatan dan susulan untuk jangka masa yang panjang kerana penyakit ini boleh berulang dari masa ke semasa.

5 Beliau kini faham akan tuduhan ke atasnya dan didapati sihat untuk dibicarakan di mahkamah bagi tujuan membela diri.

The case was adjourned to 12 September 1997 when the prosecuting officer informed the court that he had been instructed by the learned deputy public prosecutor to proceed with the charge. The charge was then read and explained to the accused who pleaded guilty. He understood the nature and consequences of his plea. The case was then adjourned to 16 October 1997 for facts and sentence. Upon the application on that day of learned counsel for the accused, who had then come on record, the case was stood down to the following day. On 17 October 1997, the prosecution tendered an amended charge which reads as follows:

Bahawa kamu pada 6 Julai 1997 jam lebih kurang 7.25 pagi, di Batu 5 Lorong Sidang Hassan Bukit Katil Melaka, di dalam Daerah Melaka Tengah, di Negeri Melaka, telah melakukan rompakan sebentuk cincin ke atas Dengkil bte Taib (P) KP3715812, dengan itu melakukan kesalahan di bawah s 392 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum di bawah peruntukkan yang sama.

When the amended charge was read and explained to the accused, he again pleaded guilty. He understood the nature and consequences of his plea. The prosecution then tendered a statement outlining the facts of the case. It reads as follows:

Pengadu di dalam kes ini ialah seorang perempuan Melayu nama Dengkil bte Taib KP 3715812 berumur 76 tahun, tidak bekerja dan beralamat di Batu 5, Lorong Sidang Hassan, Jalan Bukit Katil, Melaka Tengah, Melaka.

Pada 6 Julai 1997 jam lebih kurang pukul 7.25 pagi, apabila yang dituduh bangun dari tidur di Batu 5, Lorong Sidang Hassan Bukit Katil, Melaka Tengah, Melaka, telah terus mendapatkan pengadu. Yang dituduh kemudian terus memegang tangan pengadu dan cuba melucutkan cincin yang dipakai oleh pengadu. Pengadu cuba menolak tetapi yang dituduh t