Kids in car, heads out of windows: Father charged with endangering his three children

IPOH: An insurance agent pleaded not guilty to three counts of child endangerment at the Sessions Court here on Tuesday (May 31).

The 37-year-old accused claimed trial before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad for exposing his three children – aged four, seven and eight – to danger in a moving car that could likely cause physical injuries.

According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on Jalan Tambun here between 6.20pm and 6.45pm on March 22.

He was charged under Section 31(1)(A) of the Child Act with exposing a child under a person’s care in a manner likely to cause physical or emotional injury.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Evangelin Simon Silvaraj requested for the court to set bail at RM15,000 for each charge.

“I would also like to request that the court place additional charges on the accused to report to the nearest police station every month.

“To ensure his children are not placed in similar danger in the future, the accused should also not be anywhere near them,” she added.

His counsel K. Nathan asked for lower bail, stating that he had three children, a wife and two parents to care for.

He also said there was no element of sexual abuse involved and therefore no need to separate the children from him.

“It’s a case of negligence and my client will never repeat this again,” he said.

Ainul Shahrin fixed bail at RM9,000 for all three charges and set July 1 for mention. The accused posted bail.

On March 24, a one-minute three-second video clip of three small children, including two girls in school uniform, sticking out from the windows of a moving car went viral.