Muhammad Firdaus Shariman being taken to the Sessions Court to be charged
KUALA PILAH: A couple who left two young children in an unattended car that then crashed into a Ramadan bazaar stall have pleaded guilty to a charge of child negligence.
Muhammad Firdaus Shariman, 32, and Siti Salasiah Jumaah, 25, did not contest the charge after it was read to them before Sessions judge Norma Ismail here on Wednesday (April 3).
They were charged with leaving their children, aged six and one year old, unsupervised in the car with its engine running along a road in Kuala Klawang at around 5.30pm on March 12.
They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both upon conviction.
The provision states that action can be taken against a parent or guardian who neglects, abandons or exposes a child in a manner likely to cause physical or emotional injury.
Siti Salasiah also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of causing grievous hurt to a stall owner as a result of the car crash.
The stall owner was scalded after a wok of boiling oil tipped over on him.
She was charged under Section 338 of the Penal Code for a rash or negligent act that could endanger human life or personal safety.
Offenders can be jailed up to two years or fined up to RM2,000 or both upon conviction.
DPP Norazihah Asmuni then asked the court for another date for sentencing to allow the prosecution to file the facts of the case.
She asked the court to fix bail at RM5,000 with one surety for each accused and to order them to surrender their passports to the court until sentencing.
She also asked for additional bail of RM3,000 for Siti Salasiah for the second charge.
The couple, who were unrepresented, pleaded for lower bail as they could not afford the amount suggested by the prosecution.
Muhammad Firdaus said he worked as a gardener while Siti Salasiah was a housewife.
Judge Norma fixed bail at RM3,000 with one surety each for the joint offence and an additional RM1,000 for the grievous hurt offence.
She then fixed May 2 for sentencing on both offences.
