Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

‘Temporarily insane’ man acquitted of murdering mother

SINGAPORE — A 32-year-old former Institute of Mental Health employee was today acquitted of murdering his mother two years ago on grounds of temporary insanity.

SINGAPORE — A 32-year-old former Institute of Mental Health employee was today acquitted of murdering his mother two years ago on grounds of temporary insanity.

Mr Mohamed Redha Abdul Mutalib, 32, abused cough mixture and a drug called Dexthromethorphan and was heavily intoxicated on the latter when he stabbed his mother, Mdm Asnah Aziz, multiple times at their Eunos Crescent flat on Jan 26, 2012. He believed his mother to be a spirit and heard voices telling him to kill her.

After stabbing her, Mr Redha climbed out of the kitchen window into a neighbouring unit. He then climbed to the roof of the block of flats before returning to the neighbouring unit and taking S$374. He was found by SCDF officers in Strathmore Avenue in Queenstown and was later arrested.

Mr Redha was assessed by a psychiatrist to be of temporary unsound mind. He pleaded not guilty to murder today at the High Court and Justice Tay Yong Kwang acquitted him of the charge and ordered that he be kept in safe custody in Changi Prison, pending an order of the Home Affairs Minister that he be confined to a psychiatric institution or another suitable place.

Mr Redha appeared relaxed in court and his wife, sister and best friend were at the hearing. His wife, Filipina nurse Alma Pendon Sorongan, told reporters she was thankful for the judge’s decision. They have a 9-year-old daughter and Ms Sorongan said she was aware of Mr Redha’s substance abuse and had asked his mother to take him to a doctor, but Mdm Asnah had not felt he needed medical help.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.