KUALA KANGSAR, Nov 10 — The Sessions Court here today ordered a man who pleaded guilty to attempting to murder and raping a woman to undergo a psychiatric assessment at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Tanjung Rambutan.

Judge Nuur Hafiedzah Md Daud issued the order against Marwan Mohd Nor, 38, under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code after observing the accused’s demeanour when he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Earlier, Marwan pleaded guilty to both charges and appealed to the court to impose the maximum sentence for the rape charge.

According to the first charge, the accused was alleged to have attempted to murder a 20-year-old woman, causing her injuries by the roadside along the Felda Lasah-Lintang road, at Lubuk Kelah Lintang, Sungai Siput, at about 11.20 pm on Nov 3.

The charge was framed under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a possible fine upon conviction.

Under the second charge, the man was accused of causing injury to and raping the victim at the same location, date and time.

He was charged under Section 376(2)(a) of the Penal Code, which provides for a minimum jail term of 10 years and a maximum of 30 years, as well as whipping, upon conviction.

Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) prosecuting officer Insp Nor A’in Ahmad applied for a date to be fixed for the submission of the facts of the case and sentencing.

The court subsequently ordered the accused to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta Tanjung Rambutan for monitoring and a mental health assessment, and fixed Dec 21 for mention of the case and submission of the psychiatric report. — Bernama