JOHOR BARU: A 40-year-old customer service employee was charged in the Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday (July 28) with murdering his 18-month-old son nearly three years ago.
No plea was recorded from G. Thevendhiran after the murder charge was read before Magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman, as the offence falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
He is accused of murdering his son, Theshvwar, at Straits View Condominium in Jalan Permas Selatan, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Masai, between 8.30am and 10am on Sept 12, 2023.
Thevendhiran, who works in Singapore, was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, with not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Deana Aqilah Aliman appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
No bail was offered and the court fixed Oct 1 for mention pending the submission of DNA, pathology and forensic reports.
In a separate Magistrate's Court, Thevendhiran pleaded guilty to possessing obscene images and videos stored on his mobile phone.
He was charged before Magistrate A. Shaarmini with committing the offence at the same condominium at about 1pm on July 18.
The offence, under Section 292(a) of the Penal Code, is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Anis Shafeeqah Mohd Shariffudin appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Noor Asyikin Shafiqah Atham Malik represented the accused through the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Shaarmini sentenced Thevendhiran to one month's jail and fined him RM3,000, in default three months' imprisonment, after defense counsel mitigated for a lenient sentence.
The murder charge follows police reclassifying the toddler's death after fresh investigations led to the father's arrest on July 18.
Johor police previously said the boy was brought unconscious to Hospital Sultan Ismail on Sept 13, 2023, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said examinations of the accused's mobile phone led to the discovery of obscene content, resulting in the separate charge.
