Mentally ill woman confined for her own safety - Family

Ismail Ibrahim, 57, the step-brother of the 44-year-old woman said he and his other family members locked up the victim for her own safety.

"I cannot let her go because she is a woman. She cannot mingle with the public because she is very aggressive. She has even attempted to burn down the house once," he claimed.

"Once in Penang, she threw a bowl to the ground from the second floor. We don't know what else to do, we have tried," said Ismail to reporters when interviewed at the Tumpat Hospital here, today.

Yesterday, the Social Welfare Department and the police found Nasitah Yahya who was confined in a small room since 10 years ago, after their parents' death in Kampung Pasir, Pekan Hulu, here.

Ismail clarified that he did not provide water and electricity inside the room fearing they would endanger Nasitah.

"We do not supply the room with water and electricity because it posed a danger to her. We did place a television and piped water fixture but she broke them, so its dangerous.