PETALING JAYA – Nasyid singer-songwriter Muhammad Yasin Sulaiman plans to apply for release from the mental health facility where he is currently receiving treatment after being freed by the sessions court here today for three cannabis-related charges.
Expressing gratitude for the court’s decision, he said he would be returning to Hospital Bahagia to continue his treatment for his bipolar condition and would stay there at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor.
“However, I (might) be making an application for the Sultan to allow me to return to my home in Kajang and Kota Damansara.
“God-willing, I will be back (in the entertainment industry). I’ve written a lot of songs and Insya-Allah, I will be producing songs as usual, when I’m back,” he told reporters outside the court here, today.
Yasin, 48, was acquitted and discharged of possessing, planting and ingesting cannabis earlier today, although the court agreed that the singer had indeed committed the offences.
However, sessions court judge Faiz Dziayuddin also accepted that Yasin had not been in the right mental state at the time of the offences and was not aware that his actions violated the law.
The court also decided to place Yasin in the care of Hospital Bahagia in Ulu Kinta, Tanjung Rambutan, Perak, at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor in accordance with Section 438(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The section states that the sultan may order an acquitted person to be confined in a psychiatric hospital at the ruler’s pleasure.
Yasin said he had prepared himself for the court’s decision to be “50-50” either way.
“I was nervous but I prayed a lot, and Alhamdulillah… 20 months of fighting for my case has ended with good news today,” he said.
He also thanked his family and defence team for their support throughout the trial.
“And I thank those who have contributed to the crowdfund for my legal aid funds (at the beginning of the case), as well as members of the public and fans who have been praying for me all along.”
Besides family members, renowned composer Datuk Freddie Fernandez was also present at the courthouse today in solidarity with Yasin.
Yasin’s brother, Zain Sulaiman, speaking for the family, told media that their sleepless nights are now over.
“We have been waiting for this verdict for so long… we couldn’t sleep for the past week, waiting for this decision. And today’s decision made us very, very happy.
“We are grateful that he is ordered to be sent to Hospital Bahagia. It’s not a problem, despite it is located slightly further from us.
“But we are confident that he will get the perfect treatment for his bipolar condition, and that’s all that matters,” Zain said.
Recounting the moment when the judge announced Yasin’s acquittal and discharge, Zain said he was speechless.
“I was truly, very grateful… we could see in the trial that the evidence put by the defence is strong, but we are 50-50 about it because anything can still happen (before the verdict was delivered).
“But the minute the verdict was delivered, I cannot describe how I feel at that time… I was relieved, happy, grateful… everything,” he added. – November 29, 2023