Alleged police car thief to undergo mental evaluation
BUTTERWORTH: The man who allegedly stole a new police patrol car has been ordered by a Magistrate’s Court here to be sent for mental evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak.
Magistrate M. Kalaiarasi made the order following a request by lawyer Muhaimin Hashim for his client Mohamad Azrullah Mohd Rodzi to be sent to the hospital for mental observation.
Kalaiarasi ordered the accused to be sent to the hospital yesterday and set Nov 27 for mention and handover of documents.
Azrullah, 33, faces six criminal charges, including theft and impersonating a police officer.
In the first charge, Azrullah, an anchovies seller from Bukit Mertajam, is accused of attempting to rob Tang Chye Hong, 49, a phone seller, at a shop in Jalan Permatang Manggis, Tasek Gelugor, here at about 10pm on Oct 24.
The charge under Section 393 of the Penal Code carries a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and fine, upon conviction.
Azrullah was also charged with impersonating a police officer with the intention to arrest the same man at the same place and time.
The charge under Section 170 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both upon conviction.
He was charged with stealing a Honda Civic 1.8S police mobile patrol vehicle (MPV) at the north Seberang Prai police headquarters in Kepala Batas at about 9.15am on Oct 24.
He faces a maximum of seven years’ jail and fine if guilty.
Azrullah was also charged with impersonating a police officer with the intention to steal a police MPV at the same time and place.
In the fifth charge, he is accused of stealing two handphones from Nurul Atieka Mazlan, 21, at Kedai Vivo in Pokok Sena, Tasek Gelugor at about 10am on Oct 24.
The charge carries a jail term of up to seven years, a fine or both upon conviction.
He was also charged with impersonating a police officer with the intention to steal the handphones from Nurul Atieka.
Azrullah, who appeared confused during the proceedings, claimed trial to all the charges that were read separately to him by a court interpreter.
In mitigation, Muhaimin requested for a lower bail, stating that the accused has no stable income and is married with one child.
Kalaiarasi allowed the accused bail at RM17,500 in three sureties.
The accused was represented by lawyer Arafas Abdul Razak.
Deputy public prosecutor Aisyah Al Humairah Kamaruzaman prosecuted.
Earlier, the accused arrived in handcuffs at about 9am under heavy police escort, led by North Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Noorzainy Mohd Noor.
The patrol car was stolen from the north Seberang Prai police headquarters and it was driven on a 300km joyride to Shah Alam at about 10pm on Saturday.
A man and a woman were arrested a few hours later.
The 21-year-old woman was released on bail on Monday.