JOHOR BAHRU - A father and his girlfriend pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court here today to abandoning his seven-year-old son and causing the boy to suffer malnutrition.
Van driver R.Thalayan, 37, and his lover K.Mageswari, 39, who was unemployed entered the plea after the charges were read to them before Judge Fatimah Zahari.
They committed the offence at a house in Taman Pulai Jaya between July and Oct 12.
In a separate charge, Mageswari claimed trial to injuring the child's right hand at the same place and time.
Both charges framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and can be punished under Section 31(1) of the same act read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a maximum 20 years imprisonment, or both, if convicted.
The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutors S.Thiviya and Umar Faiz Abdul Kohar while both the accused were unrepresented.
The prosecution offered RM15,000 bail to both accused besides additional conditions of reporting themselves to the police station every month, surrendering their passports to the court. They were also prohibited from harassing the witnesses in the case.
Thayalan pleaded for lower bail saying that he earned RM1,600 monthly and was supporting his child and his mother who was suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mageswari also pleaded for lower bail saying that she was unemployed and has to support her three-year-old child.
Fatimah then allowed each accused RM6,000 bail with one surety and imposed additional conditions on them.
The court fixed Nov 21 for mention and for Mageswari to appoint a lawyer.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the suffering of the boy who had been abused for the past six months had come to an end after his neighbour lodged a complaint and he was rescued by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on Friday.
Johor Community Welfare Organisation founder M.Caren Nantheny, 46, said the victim lived with his biological father and his girlfriend along with her three-year-old daughter.
Caren said the organisation and Kangkar Pulai Indian Residents Association then asked for help from the police and the Social Welfare Department (JKM) after the suspects refused to let them see the victim on Thursday night before the two were arrested on Friday afternoon.