SINGAPORE: A woman accused of causing the death of her husband was handed a fresh charge on Wednesday (Dec 20) of possessing a knife.
Baniyah Shap, 50, was also ordered to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for medical examination after the police observed her “erratic behaviour” during investigations.
Baniyah was first charged on Dec 13 with causing 62-year-old Mohamed Ali Saaban’s death by a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide.
She allegedly got into a scuffle with her husband at about 11.50pm on Dec 11 at the void deck of Block 631, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5.
Mr Mohamed Ali later suffered a puncture wound from a silver foldable knife that led to his death.
Baniyah was handed a fresh charge on Wednesday of possessing a silver foldable knife with a 6.5cm-long blade at the time of the scuffle.
She appeared in court from her place of remand, telling the judge that she wished only to be bailed out.
In the previous court mention, she had asked for bail to attend her husband’s funeral.
The prosecutor said it has been observed that Baniyah has displayed “erratic behaviour” during investigations.
“As such, we are concerned about her ability to enter her plea,” she said, asking for Baniyah to be remanded at IMH for psychiatric assessment.
The judge ordered Baniyah to be remanded for two weeks at IMH, and for the issue of bail to be considered after remand is no longer required.
She will return to court in January.
If convicted of causing death by a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide, Baniyah can be jailed for up to five years, fined, or both.
If convicted of carrying an offensive weapon without lawful purpose, she could be jailed for up to three years. She cannot be caned as she is a woman.