KUALA KUBU BHARU: The magistrates court here has barred an actor from interacting with his wife after he was charged with the offence of voluntarily hurting her.
Judge Siti Fatimah Talib also ordered Hafidz Roshdi to post bail in the sum of RM4,000 and undergo a psychiatric evaluation after the actor pleaded not guilty to a charge preferred against him for voluntarily causing hurt to his spouse.
The charge was brought under Section 323 read with Section 326A of the Penal Code.
Section 326A doubles the punishment that a person may be liable to receive under Section 323 if hurt is inflicted on a spouse, child, family member or an incapacitated adult.
As a result, an offender may, if convicted, be liable for a jail term of up to two years and a maximum fine of RM4,000.
Hafidz was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court until the trial is concluded as a condition for bail.
The case is fixed for further mention on June 9.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar applied under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code for the accused to be sent for psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Tanjung Rambutan.
Nurul Qistini, who was assisted by Elyza Amira Habeeb Rahman, also urged the court to set bail at RM10,000.
Lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader, who appeared for Hafidz, requested bail of less than RM5,000 after telling the court his client suffers from bipolar disorder.
The charge sheet alleges that the actor had punched his wife, Nurul Shuhada Mat Shukri, three times near the Sungai Buaya toll plaza at 3.22am on March 2, leaving her with bruises and swelling on her left cheek.
Hafidz was arrested on March 4 at around 12pm and was released on bail the same day.
The couple’s divorce proceedings is scheduled for mention on March 21 in a Shah Alam shariah court.