Deaf man charged for starting fire that killed four in Tanjung Sepat

BANTING: A hearing impaired man suspected of setting a home on fire which killed several members of a family in Tanjung Sepat on Dec 13 was brought to the Telok Datok magistrate's court today to face four murder charges and another for voluntarily causing hurt to a child.
Kang Chang Heng, 38, of Taman Sri Jaya in Kluang, Johor, was charged with the murders of Chia Tee Nang, 73, his wife Lim Mai Shak, 68, their grandsons Chia Yuan Bin, 3, and 9-year-old Ryan Chia Zeng Xi, at house number 72, Jalan Tepi Laut, Tanjung Sepat, in Kuala Langat, between 4am and 5am on Dec 13.
Kang, a furniture factory worker in Kepong, was also charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to Andrew Chia Zeng Haol, 12.
Kang nodded to signal that he understood the five charges read out to him by a sign language interpreter before magistrate Mohd Isa Md Nor.
However, no plea was recorded.
After all the charges were read out, Kang's counsel Lim Chin Huat applied for his client to be sent for psychiatric observation for a month as Kang was suspected to have a mental disorder.
However, Mohd Isa rejected Lim's application as he found Kang appeared to be sound, adding that in normal circumstances, such an application would be made by the prosecution.
"I see the accused is not behaving strangely as if he is unsound and he appears to be healthy.
"I cannot grant the application. However, if the counsel is able to furnish supporting documents and convince the court that the accused has a history of psychological problems, it can be considered," said Mohd Isa before setting March 8 for mention and submission of documents.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Nadia Basri prosecuted.