A 32-year-old former e-hailing driver, Chan Wen Jie, was sentenced to eight years and six months in jail by the High Court yesterday (14 October) after pleading guilty to abusing a three-year-old boy, leading to his death, including forcing him to eat his own faeces from a disposable diaper.
The case dates back to 2 October 2022, when Chan was accused of murdering Lee See Jie at a house in Jalan Ria 2, Taman Skudai Ria, Skudai, between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM, where he was initially charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code at the Magistrates’ Court on 13 October 2022.
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Johor man jailed 8 years for dorcing toddler to eat his own faeces
In his judgment, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abdul Fareed Abdul Gapoor described forcing the three-year-old to eat his own faeces from a disposable diaper as an uncivilised and degrading act that could not be considered a form of discipline, according to Harian Metro.
He also highlighted CCTV footage showing the accused carrying out various cruel acts against the boy, including banging his head, making him perform squats with his hands behind his head, forcing him to stand for long periods and caning him.
Abdul Fareed said the footage showed that the man’s actions went far beyond ordinary physical punishment, amounting to excessive and merciless abuse of a helpless three-year-old who could not protect himself.
The man was sentenced to eight years and six months in jail after pleading guilty to an alternative charge under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001. He was also placed on a three-year good behaviour bond with one surety and without collateral.
The accused claims that he was merely “disciplining” the boy
Abdul Fareed also rejected the defence’s argument that the man was merely disciplining the boy in the same way he disciplined his own child.
He said the man had betrayed the trust of the boy’s father, who had entrusted him with the child’s care, adding that he should have returned the boy to his father if he was unable to look after him.
In deciding the sentence, the court did not take into account the withdrawn murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code or the cause of the boy’s death.
“After weighing the aggravating and mitigating factors, the court decided that a prison sentence of eight years and six months was appropriate for the offence, while emphasising the importance of protecting children from abuse,” Abdul Fareed said.
The court also ordered the accused to perform 36 hours of community service within six months, with his prison sentence backdated to the date of his arrest on 3 October 2022.
Also read: 20yo M’sian Mother Faces Jail Time for Kicking 3yo Son in KL Home, 2 Other Women Also Charged
