Hospital shooting suspect remanded for 3 more weeks

Muhammad Iskandar Sa'at faces the death penalty if convicted of firing three rounds from a revolver. His lawyer did not object to the prosecution's application for more time for a psychiatric evaluation.
Muhammad Iskandar Sa'at faces the death penalty if convicted of firing three rounds from a revolver. His lawyer did not object to the prosecution's application for more time for a psychiatric evaluation. THE NEW PAPER FILE PHOTO

The man accused of firing three rounds from a police revolver at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital last month will be remanded for another three weeks at a medical centre in Changi Prison for a psychiatric assessment to be completed.

Muhammad Iskandar Sa'at, 23, is accused of discharging three bullets from a .38-calibre Taurus revolver with intent to injure Staff Sergeant Mohammad Sadli Razali, 31, between 7.03pm and 7.06pm on June 20. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

Mr Shashi Nathan, who was appointed by Muhammad Iskandar's family members to act on his behalf, did not object to the prosecution's application for more time for the psychiatric evaluation.

The case will be mentioned in the State Courts again on Aug 6.

A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for Sept 8 in the High Court, Mr Nathan told reporters.

Muhammad Iskandar was also charged with hitting Staff Sgt Sadli multiple times with a T-baton and a metal pole, used for securing an intravenous drip, on the same day.

He faces another charge of trying to escape from legal custody.

At the time of the offence, Muhammad Iskandar was in police custody for an unrelated charge of motor vehicle theft. While in custody, he complained of chest pains and was escorted to the hospital in Yishun. A struggle ensued after he tried to escape while inside a private room in the hospital.

Speaking to reporters after court yesterday, Mr Nathan said he has yet to speak to his client and to take instructions from him. He said the psychiatric evaluation will include background interviews with family members. The assessment will aim to ascertain "factors that led him to behave in this way", said Mr Nathan.

The maximum punishment for hurting a public servant is seven years' jail, a fine and caning. If convicted of trying to escape from legal custody, he can be jailed for up to two years and fined. The maximum punishment for vehicle theft is seven years' jail and a fine plus disqualification from driving.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 21, 2015, with the headline Hospital shooting suspect remanded for 3 more weeks. Subscribe