BATU PAHAT: A school van driver has been charged with neglect that allegedly led to the death of a five-year-old boy who was found unconscious in his vehicle last month.
Yau Chee Weng, 56, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read in Mandarin before Sessions Court judge Mohamad Khalid Ab Karim on Wednesday (May 7).
According to the charge sheet, the accused left five-year-old Teo Yu Ze, who was under his care, unattended in the locked van, leading to the child's death.
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Yau was accused of committing the offence in front of a kindergarten in Jalan Indah 10/14, Taman Bukit Indah, Iskandar Puteri, between 8am and 12.05pm on April 30.
He was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglect or omission to care for a child in a manner likely to cause physical injury.
The case was prosecuted by deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad, while the accused was represented by lawyer Goh Toh Jen.
Sharifah Natasha requested the court to set bail at RM15,000, but Goh asked for a lower amount, noting that the accused is a retiree who works as a part-time van driver.
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The judge set bail at RM7,000 and fixed June 12 for the next mention and submission of documents.
Yau is also required to report to the nearest police station once a month, surrender his passport to the court, and refrain from disturbing witnesses involved in the case.
He later posted bail.
It was reported that the boy was found unconscious in a school van outside a kindergarten in Taman Bukit Indah on April 30.
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He was believed to have been left behind after the driver dropped off other students at around 7.30am.
The child was found at noon and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The suspect was arrested at 2.40pm the same day in the Taman Bukit Indah area.
