Disabled man who was beaten in a care centre dies

ALOR SETAR - A disabled man who had been unconscious for the last 10 days after being beaten and stomped on by two other occupants in a mental care centre in Sungai Petani near here died yesterday.

Kuala Muda District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Zaidy Che Hassan said the 49-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital (HSAH), Sungai Petani at 4.02am.

He said the case was previously investigated under Section 325 of the Penal Code but would be reclassified to Section 302 of the Penal code due to murder following the victim’s death.

“The victim received treatments in the HSAH red zone on July 17 after not gaining consciousness from being beaten by two occupants in a care centre.

“Investigations show the incident happened as the other two occupants were dissatisfied towards the victim who stepped on them while they were asleep on the room’s floor,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Zaidy said the care centre manager had received information that the victim’s leg was bruised after the two occupants allegedly stepped on him on July 11.

He said the victim was brought for treatments in the Bakar Arang Health Clinic, Sungai Petani near here on the following day.

“However, the victim was found in a weak condition on his bed while being called to eat at approximately 12.40 pm on July 17 before being taken to HSAH for further treatment,” he said.

He added the specialist who treated the victim said that the latter was in a critical condition and had relied on medication and ventilators.

Zaidy said there were bruises on his hips up until his thighs and the bones along his right sole were broken.

“There were likely several internal injuries to the victim’s abdomen and he subsequently received treatments and was monitored by specialists in the HSAH red zone,” he said.

Zaidy said the initial interview with both suspects revealed that the duo were unsatisfied as the victim allegedly stepped on them as they were sleeping.

Investigations showed the care centre had operated since 2009 and owned three rooms which housed mental patients sent by their families.

“There are 57 mental patients including the victim that occupied the care centre for around 10 years,” he said.

Following that, he said the victim’s body was sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) for an autopsy.