A WOMAN who was charged with using criminal force against the His Majesty the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, during National Day celebrations last year has been fined RM500 by the Magistrates’ Court here after pleading guilty to the offence.
Magistrate Norizan Riduan delivered the sentence on Monday after the accused, Nurhaswani Afni Mohamad Zorki, 42, admitted to the charge when it was read out in court.
The court also ordered that she serve one month in prison if she fails to pay the fine.
The charge was framed under Section 352 of the Penal Code for using criminal force, which carries a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both upon conviction.
According to the charge sheet, the offence took place at about 8.20am on 31 August 2025 in front of the Ipoh Town Hall building on Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Kinta district.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, stressing the seriousness of the offence and the public interest involved.
He said the incident occurred on National Day and involved an attack on a reigning monarch, arguing that the punishment should serve as a deterrent to prevent similar acts in the future.
In mitigation, the accused, represented by lawyer Datuk Naran Singh, apologised and sought forgiveness from the Sultan of Perak for her actions.
He also asked the court to impose a lighter sentence, citing her personal circumstances and health condition.
“The accused is a first-time offender and suffers from schizophrenia, for which she has previously received treatment,” he said.
He added that she is a divorced mother of five, previously worked as a restaurant server earning around RM1,700 a month, but is currently unemployed and dependent on her children.
The defence also highlighted that she had already spent 55 days in custody, including remand, investigation, and hospital observation periods.
The court was told that the accused had been referred to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta for psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, medical reports confirmed she was fit to stand trial and capable of entering a plea.
On 8 September 2025, she was first brought before the same court, but no plea was recorded at the time as she was ordered to undergo psychiatric observation under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Facts of the case revealed that on the day of the incident, the woman, dressed in black, had climbed onto the stage during the National Day event before suddenly rushing towards Sultan Nazrin and pulling him, causing him to nearly fall.
Security personnel immediately intervened and restrained her before a police report was lodged.
Following today’s sentencing, the court ordered that her bail money be returned.
The case has drawn attention due to its unusual circumstances, including the intersection of mental health considerations and an offence involving a member of the royal institution. - July 6, 2026
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