Shah alam: An e-hailing driver, B. Jeetendraj, 31, received a 17-year prison sentence at the Shah Alam High Court for causing the death of his girlfriend's three-year-old son in 2020. Jeetendraj pled guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Judge Julia Ibrahim handed down the sentence, which will be served from the date of Jeetendraj's arrest on August 22, 2020. Defense counsel Kee Wei Lon confirmed the sentencing and noted that Jeetendraj's guilty plea and remorse were considered as mitigating factors by the court.

The Attorney-General's Chambers accepted a representation from the defense, leading to the original murder charge under Section 302 being reduced to culpable homicide. Jeetendraj was accused of causing the death of U. Varunesh at an apartment in Jalan Kenanga, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on August 21, 2020.

Court documents revealed that Jeetendraj was caring for the child while the mother was out. He later contacted her, reporting the child was unconscious. The boy was found unresponsive and wet, and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A post-mortem showed the boy suffered multiple injuries from blunt force trauma. During mitigation, the defense urged for leniency, citing Jeetendraj's age and potential for rehabilitation. The guilty plea followed multiple representations to the AGC, two of which were initially rejected.

Deputy public prosecutor Maizatul Munirah Abdul Rahman recommended a prison term between 12 and 18 years. Jeetendraj was represented by counsels Siti Summaiyah Ahmad Jaafar and Ee Gen You.