ALOR STAR, April 9 — A youth was sentenced to 18 years’ jail by the High Court here today for intentionally causing the death of a 14-year-old girl in an abandoned paddy field two years ago.

Judicial Commissioner Dr Choo Ka Sing handed down the punishment to Mohd Firdaus Mohd Faridul, 20, who had pleaded guilty on March 26, to an alternative charged of causing death under Section 304 (a) of the Penal Code.

He had previously been charged with murder, which carries the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.

He was charged with causing the death of Noor Syafikah Nadia Rusdi, 14, at the abandoned paddy field in Kampung Alor Senibong, Mukim Tajar, here between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on November 29, 2013.

Choo ordered Mohd Firdaus to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest on January 15, 2014.

In his judgement, Dr Choo said Noor Syafikah Nadia suffocated when the accused intentionally submerged her head in muddy water at the abandoned paddy field.

He said 300 mililitres of muddy water were found in the victim's stomach and lungs.

"The victim did not die instantly, she was trying to find some strength to breath while she was drowning in the mud," he said, adding that the accused should repent and start a new life after he had served the punishment.

The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Salim Soib while the accused was represented by Burhanudeen Abd Wahid as his counsel.

The body of Noor Syafikah Nadia was found in the paddy field in Alor Senibong at 3.45 pm on November 30, 2013, after she was reported missing along with her two sisters, Nur Izzati Husna Rusdi, 12, and Puteri Nurul Akma Rusdi, three, a day earlier.

The bodies of the two other girls were found at about 4pm on December 1 by a river in Kampung Padang Tani, Langgar, about 3.5km from where the other body was recovered.

The three sisters had reportedly ridden a motorcycle at about 7.30 pm on November 29 to visit a friend of Noor Syafikah Nadia in nearby Kampung Gelam, but did not return home. — Bernama