THE MALAYSIAN man who was found at the foot of a block of flats with his girlfriend whom he is accused of murdering was unfit to attend court on Monday.

Welder Tan Teck Soon, 19, was charged two Sundays ago with the murder of Ms Chong Kar Yan, 20, a rice stall assistant in Bishan, on the 12th floor corridor of Block 565 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 on March 7.

The prosecution told the court that Tan was on medical leave until April 2.

Initially the court adjourned the case to April 6.

Tan's lawyer, Mr Subhas Anandan, requested that the case be mentioned in a week's time so that he could apply for access to his client.

The case will be mentioned next Monday.

If convicted of murder, Tan faces the mandatory death penalty.