Criminologist: unsound-mind acquittal needs treatment, not automatic release

A criminologist says a child acquitted of a serious offence on grounds of unsoundness of mind must still receive psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and supervision, with any return to society based on clinical and risk assessments. Former Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir explains that legal insanity under Section 84 of the Penal Code concerns the accused's mental state at the time of the offence, and that such an acquittal does not mean the accused walks free.