Priest claims trial over son’s death

KAJANG: A man claimed trial in the Sessions Court here yesterday for allegedly abusing his 10-year-old son to death last week.

The 43-year-old priest at a temple in Semenyih, pleaded not guilty before judge Datin Surita Budin to committing the offence.

He is charged with physically and fatally harming the child.

The accused had allegedly committed the offence at Section 1, Rinching Town, Semenyih at 10.35pm on Dec 5.

The accused was charged under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years or a maximum fine of RM50,000, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Noor Hafizan offered a RM20,000 bail and asked for the accused not to approach his two other children.

The accused’s pro bono lawyer, S.R. Sree Devi Naidu, asked the court to reduce the bail sum, saying the accused was poor, had lost his job and that his house was being auctioned.

The court allowed the accused to be bailed at RM15,000 and had set Jan 10 for mention of the case.

It was reported that the accused was detained at the Semenyih police station at 9.30am on Dec 7.

Police were alerted by medical officers at Serdang Hospital on Dec 6 that a boy was brought to the hospital by his family members in an unconscious state.

The doctor who confirmed his death found injuries on his head, legs, arms and abdomen.

The boy’s identity was confirmed by his mother and siblings.

A post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma to his body.

The victim, the second of three siblings, was left under the man’s care as the mother left home about two months ago.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.