AGC appeals acquittal of 15-year-old in Bandar Utama school murder

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has appealed the Shah Alam High Court’s decision to acquit and discharge a 15-year-old boy charged with murdering a schoolmate in Bandar Utama last year.

In a statement today, the AGC said it filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday against the High Court’s Sept 14 decision.

The teenager had been charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

The High Court acquitted and discharged him at the end of the defence case after finding that he was of unsound mind when the offence was committed.

However, Justice Adlin Abdul Majid ordered him to be detained at the pleasure of the Selangor sultan at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak, where he will undergo treatment.

The boy was accused of fatally stabbing 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen in the girls’ toilet of their school between 9.20am and 9.35am on Oct 14 last year.

Following the acquittal, Shing Xuen’s mother, Wong Lee Ping, urged the public to support a petition calling on the AGC to appeal the decision.

Wong said the family had limited legal avenues because the decision to appeal ultimately rested with the prosecution.

She said the family was not asking anyone to prejudge the case, but hoped the proper legal process would be given serious consideration.

The teenager was declared fit to stand trial in January after completing a psychiatric assessment at Hospital Bahagia.

The murder trial began on Aug 3 and was conducted in camera as the accused was a minor. He was ordered to enter his defence on Aug 13.