Psychatric evaluation for Indonesian maid murder suspect

The High Court here has ordered an Indonesian maid accused of murdering her employer three years ago to undergo a one-month psychiatric evaluation at Permai Hospital, Johor.

Judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim ordered the evaluation under the Criminal Procedure Code in order to determine Wilfrida Soik's mental state at the time of the incident.

Wilfrida, from East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia is charged with murdering Yeap Seok Pen, 60, in a house in Kampung Lubok Tapah, Pasir Mas on Dec 7, 2010, under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

The application for the evaluation was made earlier during the proceedings by the accused's counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim.

Also present in court were Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno and Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto of the Gerakan Indonesia Raya party.

Ahmad Zaidi scheduled Dec 29 for re-mention.