THE man accused of firing three rounds from a police revolver at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital was charged with two more offences yesterday.
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.
Yesterday, he was also charged with hitting Staff Sgt Sadli multiple times with a T-baton and a metal pole used for securing an intravenous drip some time between 6.53pm and 7pm on the same day, to deter the policeman from doing his duty.
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 to seek medical help. A struggle ensued after he tried to escape while inside a private room in the hospital.
The other fresh charge yesterday states that he tried to escape from legal custody after he was arrested for stealing a lorry in Sembawang Drive the day before.
The prosecution applied for him to be remanded for psychiatric evaluation.
Before his lawyer stepped into the courtroom, Muhammad Iskandar asked for bail but District Judge Eddy Tham told him he could not go on bail unless the capital charge he was facing was reduced.
His family members have instructed lawyer Shashi Nathan to act for him. Mr Nathan's colleague, Ms Tania Chin, was in court yesterday and had no objections to the three-week remand.
Ms Chin was allowed to speak briefly with Muhammad Iskandar in court. He will return to court on July 20.
The maximum punishment for causing hurt to a public servant is seven years' jail, a fine and caning. If convicted of attempting to escape from legal custody, he can be jailed for up to one year and fined. The maximum punishment for vehicle theft is seven years' jail and a fine plus disqualification from driving.
