Case of toddler's death in car to be probed for negligence

KUANTAN: The case of a three-year-old boy who died after being left in a car by his father for over nine hours on Thursday, will be probed for negligence.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Zakaria Ahmad said the case would be investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act.

"We will call up the parents and other witnesses for questioning. It will then be up to the deputy public prosecutor to decide whether to file criminal charges, after the investigation is completed," he said when contacted Friday.

On Thursday, Muhammad Arif Mohd Yusof, three, was found dead in his parents' car where he was left forgotten during the hectic first day of school.

Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Jasmani Yusoff said the 41-year-old father Mohd Yusof Abd Rashid had brought his wife and six children to SMK Pandan at about 7.30am.

After dropping his wife and three of his children there, Mohd Yusof proceeded to SK Tunku Azizah in Indera Mahkota to send his other children to school. The deceased was also in the car at that time.

"At 10am, his wife called him to come pick her up at SMK Pandan but he did not do that and drove to Taman Tas for a drink instead. He only went to SK Tunku Azizah at about 2pm and found his wife was already there," said ACP Mohd Jasmani.

Mohd Yusoff, who is a labourer, waited at the guard house while his wife registered their children for religious classes.

"It was only at 5pm that he returned to his car and was shocked to find his son's lifeless body," said ACP Mohd Jasmani, adding that the boy was rushed to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan hospital to no avail.

ACP Mohd Jasmani said the father admitted that he forgot Muhammad Arif was still in the car and only realised it at 5pm.

He also said the post-mortem could not determine the cause of death and the boy's organs would be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

ACP Mohd Jasmani said the boy could have died due to anxiety or extreme hunger.