PETALING JAYA – The first defence witness in nasyid singer Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman’s drug trial today testified that the accused had suffered a mental relapse three months before the alleged offence.
Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Lloyd Anthony, of Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, informed sessions court Judge Faiz Dzaiyuddin of this conclusion after assessing Yasin during his hospitalisation from May 10 to July 6 this year.
He further revealed that at least three months before the alleged offense, which was March 24 of the previous year, Yasin had experienced a severe bipolar relapse, commonly referred to as a manic episode.
This episode was characterised by an elevated sense of self and racing thoughts that manifested as flights of ideas.
“One of the ideas that came to him during the manic episode is to plant cannabis for medical purposes because he felt that he had the responsibility to help or ‘save’ those who suffers the same mental condition as him.
“He felt that he had to find a cure for everyone who was suffering from chronic illnesses or from mental disorder such as his.
“And this idea was directly related to the relapse, where he became delusional and thought this was the way to go (by planting cannabis plant).
“However, his thoughts of the idea only go as far as planting (the cannabis) as he does not have the expertise to extract cannabis that would be used for medical purposes,” he said.
Earlier, he testified to the court that he had diagnosed Yasin with a mental disorder, specifically Bipolar Type 1, and a medical condition, namely hyperthyroidism, when he was admitted to the hospital.
“If these two conditions (bipolar and hyperthyroidism) were not treated, the patient can experience psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
“However, if the hyperthyroid alone is not treated then the patient can manifest with psychiatric symptoms that is anxiety and hallucinations as well.
“He (Yasin) was still experiencing manic symptoms and thyroid function that indicates his hormone level was not normal when he was admitted. Therefore, the treatment for both condition is done simultaneously,” he said.
Previously, Yasin was ordered to enter defence on all three drug charges he faced, that is possessing 193.7g of cannabis, cultivating 17 cannabis plants in plastic pots at his house inKota Damansara, as well as ingesting cannabis at the Petaling Jaya District Headquarters Narcotics Office.
His charges were framed under Section 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries imprisonment between five years to a lifetime, and a maximum 20 strokes of rotan, as well as Section 6B(1)(a) of the same act, that provides life imprisonment and at least six strokes of rotan, respectively, upon conviction.
His charges of ingesting cannabis was framed under Section 15(1)(a) and punishable under Section 15(1) of the same act that carries a maximum RM5,000 fine not exceeding RM5,000 or maximum two years jail term if convicted.
The trial then adjourned for the day and will continue on October 17. – October 3, 2023