KL police to investigate viral video of juvenile beggars

KUALA LUMPUR: City police have opened investigations into a viral video of children begging for money here.

The 18-second-clip depicts a couple walking when they come across two children.

The woman in the video is seemingly pointing her finger and saying something to the girl.

A boy is then seen approaching the couple, and the woman tells the boy to go away but the boy begins to mumble angrily.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Saiful Annuar Yusoff said they detected the video which was circulated on social media.

"We believe the incident was recorded in Kuala Lumpur.

"Based on the video, we are now working on tracking down the children involved," he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 6).

He said they could use several legal provisions to take action, such as Section 32 of the Child Act 2001 for using children for begging.

"We can also investigate under Section 283 of the Penal Code, which stipulates that whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished with fine which may extend to four hundred ringgit.

"We can also investigate under Section 27(c) of the Minor Offences Act for begging in a public place," he said as he warned the people against this illegal activity.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the police hotline at 03-2146 0584 or 03-2146 0585.