Ex-Astro worker facing 743 charges to undergo psych evaluation
KUALA LUMPUR : A former Astro employee facing 743 charges over unauthorised data system modifications has been ordered by the sessions court here to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Judge Norma Ismail ordered Nora Idayu Jaafar, 48, to undergo a one-month evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak beginning June 30, after her lawyer raised her health condition during mitigation today.
Lawyer Daniel Annamalai said Nora had gone to a private clinic on June 6, where the doctor suspected she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD and referred her to a specialist.
A referral letter from the clinic was furnished to the court.
When asked by the judge if she was ever diagnosed with a psychiatric condition, the accused claimed to have suffered from one prior to being charged earlier this month. She said she never sought treatment as she was preoccupied with a child custody battle in the shariah courts.
Daniel also said Nora's husband had resigned from his job last week to take care of her. She is currently unemployed.
Earlier, the court interpreter read out 132 charges against the accused of altering Astro's customer management system to convert regular customer accounts into corporate accounts.
The offences were said to have been committed between 2013 and 2020 at Astro's office at Menara Icon on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.
The charges were framed under Section 5(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997, which carries a maximum fine of RM100,000, up to seven years in jail, or both, upon conviction.
Nora claimed trial to all of the charges.
Today's session was a continuation from the June 4 court date, which was adjourned after Nora fainted when the 90th charge was read to her.
Today, she was allowed to sit down in the dock while the charges were read out to her.
The court fixed July 29 for an update of her mental condition before a decision is made on whether to proceed with the rest of the charges.
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