A mentally ill man who was only seconds away from being reunited with his family after two years found himself back in custody after he muttered incomprehensible sentences in court.

Eric Edwards, who is charged with indecent assault, was to be reunited with his loved ones after he was diagnosed as stable after numerous psychiatric evaluations. Moments before the deranged man, who had been in police custody for the past two years, was about to be released in the care of his family, the decision had to be revoked.

However, the possibility of Edwards going home was shortlived. The accused, who seemed all right initially, started to display traits of the very condition for which he had been receiving treatment for the past 24 months.

Edwards seemed agitated and restless before blurting out sentences which seemed incomprehensible.

"It's a free world...I go anywhere I want to go," he said repeatedly, before pointing to one of his female relatives to whom he called a prostitute.

The woman then laughed in disbelief and shook her head before the defendant was handcuffed and escorted back into custody.

The details of the charge for which the defendant is facing were not revealed in court.

Edwards was eventually remanded until August 10 for further treatment.