PENANG: A Penang Municipal Council licensing officer was yesterday charged with the acid attack murder of his wife, and causing grievous hurt to their teenage daughter.At the magistrates’ court, Tan Teik Siew, 53, was accused of killing Cheong Swee Lin, 50, by splashing acid on her at their house in Jalan Batu Lanchang about 3am on Oct 24.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

No plea was recorded from Tan who was casually dressed in a collared t-shirt, short pants and wore sandals.

Earlier, counsel R Dev Chander applied to the court to refer Tan to a psychiatric hospital for observation.

Deputy public prosecutor Mukhriz Mat Rus told the court that the prosecution would review the investigation papers if the accused was found to be of unsound mind. However, magistrate Noor Aini Yusof rejected the counsel’s application and fixed the case for mention, pending the post-mortem report.

Later at the sessions court, Tan was also charged with causing grievous hurt to the couple’s daughter, Tan Hui Linn, 17.

He pleaded not guilty to attacking the teenager by splashing acid on her face and body at the same time and place.

The charge under Section 326 of Penal Code carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years, fine or whipping, upon conviction.

As Tan is facing the murder charge, judge Roslan Hamid disallowed bail and fixed Dec 4 for mention, due to a pending medical report. — Bernama