Housewife charged with murdering 70-year-old mother

IPOH: A 49-year-old housewife was charged in the magistrate's court here today with murdering her mother at their home in Menglembu last week.

Chew Loong Thye indicated that she understood the charge after it was read to her in Cantonese before magistrate Norizan Riduan.

However, no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

She was charged with murdering Ching Lai Kheng, 70, at a house in Taman Wang, Menglembu, between 7.15pm and 7.30pm on Sept 27.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, with at least 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Ainin Sofiya Azlaini appeared for the prosecution, while Chew was unrepresented.

Ainin Sofiya told the court that the pathology and toxicology reports were still pending and that no bail was being offered.

During proceedings, Norizan asked Chew whether she had been taking her psychiatric medication, to which she replied that she had.

The court ordered Chew to undergo a psychiatric assessment and for a report to be prepared under Section 342(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court fixed Nov 22 for mention and submission of the psychiatric report.

It was reported on Sept 28 that Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the victim was found with a stab wound to her chest and was believed to have been killed by her daughter, who had a history of psychiatric treatment.

The victim, who was bedridden and required intensive care, had recently been brought home from an old folks' home in Pusing and was being cared for by Chew and her son-in-law.