JELEBU: A 36-year-old e-hailing driver has been charged in the Magistrate’s Court with the murder of his six-year-old son, A. Tishant.
No plea was recorded from M. Arunkumar after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Norshazwani Ishak, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
He is accused of committing the offence between 9.02 am and 12.55 pm on July 23 along km 25 Jalan Rompin in Bahau.
Arunkumar is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. Those convicted can face the death penalty or imprisonment between 30 and 40 years, along with whipping.
Magistrate Norshazwani set the re-mention for the Seremban High Court on September 10.
Rasyidah Murni Adzmi prosecuted.
It was earlier reported that the suspect had lodged a report on his son’s disappearance in Johor Baru on July 24, claiming the boy had gone missing near a coffee shop in Taman Bukit Indah.
He was subsequently arrested to assist with investigations.
Four days later, police found the boy’s remains buried in a secluded spot along a railway line on Jalan Rompin.
Police also recovered a hoe believed to have been used to bury the body, and an autopsy revealed the victim was strangled to death with cable ties.
The medical team estimated the victim died between 9 am and 11 am on July 23.
Johor police will also charge the suspect with multiple offences, including domestic violence and assault.
He is expected to be charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, Section 18 of the Domestic Violence Act 1994 read together with Section 326A of the Penal Code, for allegedly assaulting his wife, as well as Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 for child neglect.
The suspect’s wife had lodged a report on July 22, claiming the suspect, who also took their only child away, physically abused her.
