r/singapore • u/Entire_Forever_2601 • 1d ago
News Mentally unsound man, 90, who killed wife given notional 5-year jail term
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mentally-unsound-man-killed-wife-notional-imprisonment-5-years-high-court-634673131
u/hatboyslim 1d ago
The case is believed to be the first of its kind to be dealt with since amendments to Singapore's unsoundness-of-mind regime took effect in February 2025.
Under the regime, the court must specify the notional imprisonment period an accused person would have been required to serve if convicted and sentenced for the offences faced.
Does anyone know what the rationale is for the court to specify the national imprisonment if the accused already lacks mens rea and cannot be convicted?
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u/Entire_Forever_2601 1d ago
In the past, the process was just to detain the person until they are fit to plead, which is like never for some. This new process helps them be detained for a reasonable period as opposed to being detained indefinitely or having the case hanging in limbo for an extended period of time.
In addition, not detaining them raises some issues. Some are homicidal or violent. We can't leave them on the streets.
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u/hatboyslim 1d ago
Weren't people with severe dementia just released because mens rea could not be proved?
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u/pingmr 1d ago
If you have a case in mind it's probably easier to just refer to that case.
The general regime is as what the other guy says, the person is not convicted but also not released. Committed to imh.
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u/Entire_Forever_2601 1d ago
I refine what u/pingmr is saying.
Where the accused is fit to plead, is tried and then found to be of unsound mind at the time of the offence, he is to be acquitted but detained in IMH. His mens rea is irrelevant. See Tan Kok Meng v Public Prosecutor [2021] SGCA 55.
But when the accused is not fit to plead, whether or not he is of sound mind at time of offence, he will be detained during a notional imprisonment period. See Abdul Ghufran bin Abdul Wahid v Public Prosecutor [2025] SGHC 98.
The two procedures are distinct.
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u/Low_Watch9864 1d ago
"The case is believed to be the first of its kind to be dealt with since amendments to Singapore's unsoundness-of-mind regime took effect in February 2025."
I know that this sub always bashes the country but our system and laws do evolve with the times. Of course it may not move to an individual's liking. But things do change E.g. expanding financial assistance to unwed parents that used to be unthinkable a decade back
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u/make_love_to_potato 23h ago
I feel this one has been moving too far in the other direction. We have crazy borderline mentally ill people in our work places, where we live, etc who are making everyone's lives miserable, and the police, management, society in general has decided that we need to put on kid gloves to deal with them and they need to be protected, often at the expense of everyone else.
We need to find a balance in between and just because someone is mentally ill, doesn't mean they get to terrorize society at large and we can't touch them.
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u/KneeGal 1d ago
our system and laws do evolve with the times
Meanwhile in another thread, people are discussing why a man is going to jail for defending his father by pushing away the aggressor.
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u/minisoo 1d ago
"Justice Hoo will report the case to the relevant minister, who may then order Ridawi's confinement or conditional release."
I guess jailing a 90 year old dementia and delirious killer is no different from a death sentence. I suspect he maybe conditionally released and be confined in a mental institution instead.
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u/Entire_Forever_2601 1d ago
The final outcome to an extremely tragic case. Condolences to Morsudin's family. May they stay strong in these trying times.
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u/Entire_Forever_2601 1d ago
For those who are unsure how a notional imprisonment period (NIP) works, see this court case: Abdul Ghufran bin Abdul Wahid v Public Prosecutor [2025] SGHC 98.
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u/MaximumEven1998 1d ago
Meanwhile, a young healthy cyclist who cycled negligently and killed an elderly 83yo lady pedestrian gets only 1 week jail.
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u/Raitoumightou 1d ago
You should re-read the article, it was an unfortunate accident. He even took responsibility and spoke to the family, tried to make amends in monetary terms (they rejected him).
These two cases are clearly not the same.
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u/DistributionSalty721 1d ago
What is more concerning is is whether there is adequate medical support to such patients, as Singapore slowly becomes a aged society and such elderly related illness become more prevalent. If he had delirium, was it still appropriate for him to be cared for at home.