JOHOR BARU: A man and his girlfriend have been slapped with a total fine of RM17,000 and ordered to serve 440 hours of community service for neglecting his seven-year-old son, including locking him up in a toilet.
R. Thayalan, 39, and his girlfriend, K. Mageswari, 41, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge before judge Thalha Bachok @ Embok Mok at the Sessions Court here yesterday.
They admitted to committing the offence between July and October 2023 at a house in Taman Pulai Jaya here.
They were jointly charged under Section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect.
The case was handled by deputy public prosecutor Nor Maisarah Hassan while the accused were represented by lawyer P. Rajagunaseelan.
Nor Maisarah had asked the court to impose a heavier punishment as a deterrent.
“The victim was locked in a toilet and not given sufficient food and water.
“When rescued, the victim was in a weak condition and was very thin.
“He was rushed to Hospital Sultanah Aminah where medical officers confirmed that he suffered from malnutrition,” she said.
She also read out an impact statement from the victim, who is now under the care of his mother in Selangor.
“I used to live with my father and his girlfriend, who I called kakak (sister).
“Kakak forced me to drink toilet water and only gave me a piece of bread and a little rice every day.
“Now, I’m scared to go to school or anywhere because I am afraid kakak will come looking for me again.”
Rajagunaseelan pleaded for a lower fine for the couple.
He said Thayalan is a factory van driver with an income of between RM1,500 and RM1,800.
“Thayalan also works part-time as a car washer, earning an hourly allowance, while Mageswari is unemployed,” he added.
The judge fined Thayalan RM8,000 and ordered him to serve 200 hours of community service while Mageswari was fined RM9,000 and had to complete 240 hours of community service.