Mother who buried son under kitchen floor fit to stand trial

The Selayang Magistrate Court was told Monday that the mother who buried her son's body under the kitchen floor of a rented house, is healthy and fit to stand trial.

Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Zulia Balqish Syed Agil said based on the psychiatric report issued by Hospital Tanjung Rambutan, Perak, Tan Boa Jia, 33, was fit to stand trial on a charge of trying to dispose of the body.

However, lawyer Kitsoon Fong, who is representing the accused, said the report issued by the hospital, did not specify in detail whether the accused is suffering from 'battered wife' syndrome.

"This report, unfortunately, does not explain whether the accused is suffering from 'battered wife' syndrome. The defence's application (before this) is that a detailed report be prepared by the hospital to determine whether the accused has the syndrome or not," he said.

Accordingly, Fong asked the court to issue a letter to the hospital to get a more detailed report.

He also said that his client was prepared to go back to Hospital Bahagia if required for further evaluations and observation.

Magistrate Nurliana Ismail granted the application and maintained Sept 8 for re-mention as decided in the proceedings on Friday, pending the detailed psychiatric report.

On June 12, Tan was indicted on charges of disposing of the body of her nine-year-old son Loo Yong Shen Evan, who was killed by her husband Loo Chon Wen, 33, at No 26, Jalan 10, Taman Usaha Jaya, Kepong, at 2 pm on March 29.

Loo was earlier charged with the murder of the boy under Section 302 of the Penal Code.