IPOH: A father was charged at the Sessions Court here today, with three counts of child endangerment after his three children were seen sticking their upper bodies out of the windows of a moving car.
The accused, T. Vengadasalabathi, 37, however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him separately before judge, Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.
According to the charge sheets, the man had exposed his children, aged four, seven and eight in a manner likely to cause them physical injury.
The insurance agent was accused of committing the offence on Jalan Tambun here between 6.20pm and 6.45pm on May 22.
The offence falls under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or 20 years' imprisonment or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Evangelin Simon Silvaraj prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer K. Nathan.
In mitigation, Nathan pleaded for RM7,500 bail for all charges saying that his client only earns RM2,000 monthly and needs to look after his aged parents.
Earlier, Evangelin requested RM15,000 bail for each charge and asked the court for the father to stay away from his children, afraid that he could bring harm to them.
Nathan however stressed that this was not a sexual abuse case and only child negligence.
Ainul then set bail at RM9,000 for all charges with one surety and set July 1 for mention.
It was reported on March 24 that police received a report over a viral video which showed three children sticking their upper bodies out of the windows of a moving car on Jalan Tambun here.
In the one-minute and two-second video, the three children, clad in school uniforms, could be seen with their upper bodies out of the windows of a moving Mercedes Benz along a busy road.