Nasyid singer Yasin Sulaiman sent to mental hospital

PETALING JAYA – Nasyid singer and composer Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman has been acquitted of drug trafficking charges and ordered to undergo mental treatment at the Ulu Kinta Mental Hospital in Perak.

The Sessions Court ruled that Yasin, 48, was in an unsound mental state when he committed the offence on March 24, 2022.

The judge, Faiz Dziyauddin noted that Yasin's manic symptoms severely impaired his judgment and ability to distinguish right from wrong.

"The court decided that the accused be released and acquitted on the grounds that, during the incident on March 24 2022, Yasin was in an unsound mental state.

"Although the accused was aware of the nature of his actions, the manic symptoms experienced at the time led to a severe decline to the extent that he was unable to comprehend that his actions were wrong and against the law," he said.

Yasin was initially charged with trafficking 214 grammes of cannabis, which carries a mandatory death penalty.

However, the prosecution withdrew the charge last year, and Yasin was re-accused of possessing 193.7 grammes of the drug.

He was also charged with cultivating cannabis plants and self-administering a dangerous drug.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The court ordered Yasin to be placed under safe custody at the mental hospital for a period determined by the Selangor Sultan.