SINGAPORE: A man who struck Malaysian actor Kamal Adli at Singapore Expo last year was jailed for 28 months’ and two weeks on Thursday (Apr 25).
Muhammad Nabil Rashid used an extendable baton to strike the actor at a meet-and-greet session in March 2023.
He claimed he attacked Kamal as he wanted to take revenge for a purported act of molest by the actor on a relative.
Nabil, a 34-year-old Singaporean, has been deemed by an Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist to suffer from a psychotic illness, likely delusional disorder of a persecutory subtype. The psychiatrist felt that Nabil also had antisocial personality disorder.
Nabil pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon and two counts of using criminal force. Another four charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing.
WHAT HAPPENED
Kamal, 36, attended a celebrity meet-and-greet session at a bazaar event at Singapore Expo, Hall 5A on Mar 12, 2023.
His attendance had been advertised on social media and seen by Nabil, who decided to attend to attack the victim.
He took his extendable baton, wore a cap and put on a face mask to hide his identity before travelling to Singapore Expo at Changi.
Nabil arrived at about 9.18pm and called Kamal by name outside the hall. Thinking that Nabil wanted to take a photo with him, Kamal approached him.
At this point, Nabil took the baton from his pocket, extended it to its full length and hit Kamal on the top of his head, the side of his face and his arm.
Nabil then pulled down his face mask, smiled and walked away. He was tackled and pinned down by members of the public and Kamal’s family before being arrested by police officers.
Both Nabil and Kamal were then conveyed to Changi General Hospital under police escort.
Kamal suffered a laceration which received four stitches, and abrasions over his left cheek.
Later that evening, as both men crossed paths in the hospital, Nabil – who was seated in a wheelchair – spat at Kamal. The spittle landed on Kamal’s face and body.
Kamal’s personal assistant had in 2021 received a text message from Nabil threatening to kill Kamal.
Separately, Nabil was involved in a road rage incident in April 2022, with a couple that he argued with in Sembawang. He spat on both and put the husband in an arm lock.
Nabil was remanded for psychiatric assessment. He told the psychiatrist that he did not know Kamal personally but alleged that he wanted revenge against the celebrity for molesting a female relative.
The psychiatrist stated that Nabil had a “complete lack of insight into his illness” and refused to take any medication despite being persuaded.
Medication was eventually administered despite his refusal, as he had demonstrated he was a danger to Kamal.
Despite the evaluation, the psychiatrist said Nabil was not of unsound mind and was aware of the nature of his actions and that they were wrong.
He was deemed to be a “substantial risk” to others in view of his psychotic illness, personality disorder and a history of violent offences.
Nabil’s lawyer Wee Hong Shern said his client was now certain that the alleged victim of molest could not be his female relative, or anyone he knew.
Mr Wee said his client was fully willing to take his medication and comply with a treatment plan.
“We had tried out best to learn either why or what had caused him to have changed his mind; we had suggested answers such as if the victim’s appearance had mirrored anyone close to him,” said Mr Wee.
“The best he could answer however was that his time in remand had allowed him to indulge in introspection without distraction and he had been taking the medication prescribed by prison’s doctor.”
In reply to a request for clarification on Nabil’s psychiatric condition, the psychiatrist confirmed that Nabil’s condition had a substantial contributory link to the offence, and that his judgement was significantly impaired by his delusional belief.
The offence of voluntarily causing hurt with a weapon carries a jail term of up to seven years, or a fine, or caning, or with any combination of the penalties.
For using criminal force, Nabil could have been jailed up to three months, or fined up to S$1,500 (US$1,100), or both.
