Hitman Nicki Minaj's Father Pleads Guilty And Sentenced To Less Than A Year In Prison, Mother Not Yet Relieved

Nicki Minaj. (Photo: Instagram @nickiminaj)

JAKARTA - The perpetrator of the hit and run that killed Nicki Minaj's father was sentenced to less than one year in prison. He finally pleaded guilty to the incident that occurred last year.

The perpetrator was named Charles Polevich, as quoted by Antara from the Associated Press, Saturday, May 7. He made the confession in the state court of Nassau County on Long Island, New York, USA, Friday, May 6 local time.

Charles said he left the scene of the crash that killed Robert Maraj as the victim was walking along a road in Mineola.

According to authorities, Polevich initially got out of the car and found the injured man lying on the ground, but then he left, not calling 911, covering his car with a tarp in the garage.

Polevich also pleaded guilty to destroying evidence by hiding a car. After the hit-and-run, Maraj died in hospital the next day.

Judge Howard Sturim said Polevich would receive no more than a year in prison. The 71-year-old will be sentenced on August 3.

Minaj's mother, Carol Maraj, said she was not yet relieved by the planned punishment. Previously, he had sued Polevich.

A prosecutor, seeking prison terms of one to three years, also took issue with the planned sentence.

"Given the gravity of the defendant's behavior, we do not agree with the sentencing commitments of the court," Nassau District Attorney's office spokesman Brendan Brosh said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Polevich's lawyer, Marc Gann, said his client was very sorry for the actions he had done and sympathized with the Maraj family. Gann argued Polevich may have had a medical problem that prevented him from being "fully aware of what he was doing".

In a post on her website last year, the singer, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj, called her father's death the most profound loss she has ever experienced.

In interviews several years ago, the singer's relationship with his father was troubled but Minaj later said his father had changed.