Woman accused of killing husband in Ang Mo Kio found to be of unsound mind

SINGAPORE: A woman accused of killing her husband in Ang Mo Kio in 2019 will have her case reported to the Minister of Law after she was assessed to be unfit to plead on the grounds of an unsound mind. 

Wang Shuzhen was arrested in 2019 after the authorities found the victim, 63-year-old Mr Teh Hock Pine, lying motionless at Block 633 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 on the morning of Oct 27 that year. 

The 57-year-old was originally charged with murder, but has since had her charge downgraded to culpable homicide not amounting to murder for allegedly using a glass ball – weighing about 2.6kg – to hit Mr Teh’s head at least four times at about 5.45am.

In the High Court on Friday (Sep 30), the prosecution, referring to an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) report, stated that Wang was not fit to plead in the circumstances that apply under the Criminal Procedure Code. 

Section 248 of the Criminal Procedure Code states that if the designated medical practitioner certifies that the accused is of unsound mind and incapable of making her defence, the court must stay proceedings. 

Justice Dedar Singh Gill noted the Sep 28 medical report, and a certification dated Sep 29, certified that Wang was of an unsound mind and incapable of making her defence. 

He directed that the case be reported to the Minister of Law, under section 249 of the Criminal Procedure Code. 

Section 249 states that if the offence is not bailable, the court must report the case to the Minister of Law. The Minister may order that the accused be confined in a psychiatric institution, or any other suitable place of safe custody and the court must give effect to that order.

Pending the Minister’s order, Justice Gill ordered that Wang be detained at the Changi Prison Complex. 

During the hearing, Wang’s lawyer under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), Ms Sadhana Devi applied to discharge herself. 

The lawyer said she spoke to her client on Friday morning. 

“She reiterated that she wishes to discharge us as her counsel. This is in line with her delusional belief that my colleagues are involved in some way or the other with her husband so it would be very difficult for us to continue.” 

The lawyer added that should Wang’s condition improve, she may apply for a presentation under CLAS again. 

Wang, who is a Chinese national, appeared in court via video link. According to previous psychiatric reports, Wang had been diagnosed with schizophrenia with psychotic symptoms. 

In response, Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia said that she would raise the matter of her representation at the pre-trial conference should the case be “revived”. 

If convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Wang may be jailed for life or up to 20 years with a fine. She cannot be caned as she is a woman.