A Muslim medical graduate in Malaysia charged with damaging statues of Hindu deities at a temple has been acquitted after he was found to be mentally unsound at the time of committing the offence.
A Sessions Court Judge said it was clearly proven that accused Fathi Munzir Nadzri, 29, committed the offence, but a psychiatrist confirmed that he was suffering from Bipolar Affective Disorder with Psychotic Features Manic Phase.
"Yes, he did it but on the balance of probabilities, he was found to have done it while he was in an unstable state of mind and did not know that he was committing an offence," the judge said.
The court also acquitted and discharged Nadzri on the charge of possessing a machete on the same date and place.
Nadzri was charged with causing damage to the statues at the Sree Muneeswaran Aman temple in Ipoh last year and being in possession of a machete.
Malaysia is a Muslim majority country but has a minority population comprising ethnic Hindus and Chinese.
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