Re: Chee Chua
ORB File No: 4988
Hearing held on: Monday, February 9, 2026
Place of Hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg
Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan (via Zoom) Dr. M. Green Hon. C. Nelson Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Chee Chua Counsel: Mr. A. Rai
The person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. P.L. Darby
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Brandes
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated February 26, 2026)
Introduction
On November 16, 2007, Chee Chua was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder on charges of assault, assault with a weapon, uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm, and mischief.
Mr. Chua is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated February 19, 2025, detaining him at the Forensic Service of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (the “hospital”) with privileges, the most liberal of which allows him to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge of the hospital.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) convened a hearing at the hospital and conducted the annual review of Mr. Chua’s Disposition.
The Board found that the necessary and appropriate and the least restrictive and least onerous Disposition remained a Detention Order on a General Forensic Unit with the same privileges as were contained in last year’s Disposition.
Representation
- Dr. P. Darby appeared as representative of the hospital as well as being Mr. Chua’s most responsible physician. The Crown was represented by Mr. D. Brandes; Mr. Chua, by Mr. A. Rai. Dr. Kunjukrishnan participated by video conference. Mr. Chua’s parents were also present to offer their support, as was Mr. Chua’s case worker.
Initial Position of the Parties
- The Board was presented with a joint submission, supported by all parties, continuing the current Detention Order, but one specifying the level of security on a General Forensic Unit. Privileges remain the same as in last year’s Disposition. Mr. Rai did not contest the issue of significant threat.
Index Offence
- The index offences arose from two incidents at Mr. Chua’s family home and can be briefly described as follows.
“The first incident occurred on August 21, 2007. Mr. Chua received a letter that morning from the Ministry of Transportation advising him that his driver’s license had been suspended. He became upset because he did not want people to know that he was ill. Mr. Chua had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1996 at the age of 15 and has been suffering from symptoms of his illness ever since. He believed that the letter was written to hurt him and blamed his father for the letter. Mr. Chua left home for the day. When he returned, he became very upset while talking with his mother. He grabbed a knife and started jamming it into a basket that hung on the wall. He then began walking around with the knife, slashing it through the air. He then threw the knife at the television, approached his father and punched him in the side of his body. When his mother called the police, he attempted to smash the telephone. He was arrested, charged and granted bail.
The second incident occurred on September 16, 2007, at about 9:30 p.m. Mr. Chua was at his residence with his mother and sister. It was a condition of his bail that he have no contact with his father, and as a result, his father was living at another residence at the time. Mr. Chua’s mother advised him that it was getting late, and that he should take his medication. Mr. Chua did not want to take his medication, became enraged and started yelling at his mother. He then threw the television remote control at her, struck her in the head and said that he was going to kill her. His mother said that she was going to call 911, and Mr. Chua responded that if she did, he would kill her “many times”. His mother and sister became very frightened.”
Evidence at the Hearing
The evidence was given by Dr. Darby. The Board also had before it a Hospital Report dated January 16, 2026. Mr. Chua continued as a patient on a Secure Forensic Unit until February 6, 2025, when he was discharged back to his high support residence in Brampton. The residence is operated by Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP).
While in the hospital, Mr. Chua received an acute course of 14 treatments of ECT. As a result, he showed robust improvement. He became calmer and more appropriate. His delusions dissipated. He was no longer seen as responding to internal stimuli. His supportive housing has clinical staff on site for much of the day. He managed his bachelor apartment very well.
Mr. Chua is seen by Dr. Darby on a bi-weekly basis at his residence and his case managers are in weekly contact.
Mr. Chua has had a good year. He is medication compliant and abstains from drugs and alcohol. He attends programs with occupational therapists and spends much of his time during the warmer months fishing with his father. His parents visit him at his residence on a regular basis and sometimes stay overnight. Mr. Chua also visits at their home on a regular basis.
Mr. Chua has a very good relationship with his clinical team and housing staff who have known and worked with him for many years. Mr. Chua can be quite impulsive and needs help setting boundaries, especially with female staff.
Mr. Chua can decompensate very quickly. As a result, a Detention Order is still required to manage his risk. He has had a successful year, but his mental health remains fragile. If he were to decompensate, it would be in the context of medication noncompliance.
In answer to a Board member’s question, with respect to the absence of a weapons prohibition, Dr. Darby stated that it was dropped in Mr. Chua’s 2024 Disposition and that it would not be necessary anymore as the risk is not present.
No further evidence was called.
Submissions
- The parties maintained their initial positions indicating that they accepted the hospital’s submission for a Detention Order on a General Forensic Unit with privileges up to and including living in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge. Dr. Darby stated that Mr. Chua had had a good review year and was “back on track” in the community. The Crown, in supporting the hospital, agreed that Mr. Chua had a solid year. Mr. Rai pointed out that Mr. Chua had a “great” year with no issues and was looking forward to having another good year.
Analysis and Conclusion
Having heard the evidence, the Board accepts the joint submission of the parties. Mr. Chua continues to suffer from schizophrenia and demonstrates obsessive compulsive traits. He has also been diagnosed with a personality disorder with antisocial, narcissistic, and dependent traits. He remains a significant threat to the safety of the public as his insight into his illness is quite limited. He has no understanding about the effects of medication. The Board also notes that he suffered from a recent, sudden, severe, and unpredictable decompensation.
The Board also accepts the evidence with respect to Mr. Chua’s Re-offence Scenario which is set out at page 51 of the Hospital Report as follows:
“Should Mr. Chua re-offend it would likely transpire in the following way. Absent his medication, particularly clozapine, regardless of structure and supervision he would more likely than not rapidly become psychotic, and then aggressive and potentially sexually aggressive/inappropriate. With medication, but absent external structure and support, his already low frustration tolerance with limited coping skills would be reduced leading to an increased risk of violence. As well, absent appropriate supervision and structure, he would likely become violent in the context of perceived stress or not getting his immediate needs met.”
As a result, the Board agrees with the clinical team and counsel that a Detention Order on a General Forensic Unit remains the necessary and appropriate Disposition with privileges up to and including community living as approved by the person in charge of the hospital.
In making this Disposition, the Board has reviewed the provisions of s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code and has carefully considered the need to protect the public from dangerous persons, Mr. Chua’s mental condition, his reintegration into society and his other needs.
DATED this 26th day of February, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Hon. C. Nelson Legal Member
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board