KUALA LUMPUR – A 12 year-old boy was charged with underage driving at the Sepang magistrate’s court today, while his father was charged with child neglect.
The juvenile had been recorded on video driving a Perodua Viva in a Puchong residential area by a woman who is heard reprimanding the child before the car came to a stop.
The video went viral on social media, and was brought to the police’s attention late last month.
Today, the 12-year-old claimed trial to the charge before magistrate Bukhori Ruslan in closed proceedings as the case involves a minor.
According to media reports, lawyer Nabila Rosli confirmed to the press the boy’s charge under Section 39(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for the offence committed on July 28 at Taman Putra Impiana in Puchong, Selangor.
Separately, the boy’s father, whose name is being withheld because the case involves a minor, pleaded not guilty to child neglect in the Sepang sessions court before judge Ahmad Fuad Othman.
The father, a 53 year-old Pakistani with permanent residency in Malaysia, faces up to 20 years in jail, a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both, if convicted of the charge under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001.
The carpet salesman who has five children aged six to 19, was granted bail of RM8,000 with one surety and ordered to report to the police every month.
The foreigner also pleaded not guilty to another charge under the Road Transport Act for allowing his underaged son to drive, an offence which carries a maximum fine of RM2,000, up to six months in prison, or both, if convicted.
Case mention for the father’s child neglect charge as well as his charge under the Road Transport Act was fixed for September 4.
The child was granted bail of RM500, with the same date fixed for case mention. – August 7, 2024