12-Year-Old Viva Driver, Father Charged In Court

The 12-year-old boy depicted in a recent viral video joyriding through a neighbourhood at night with his siblings in a Perodua Viva, along with his father, have both been charged separately in court, reports various local news outlets today.

The joyriding youth had his case heard in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court. His father, a Pakistan national with permanent residency status in the country and working as a small-scale carpet salesman, instead claimed trial in the Sepang sessions court.

The joyriding 12-year-old was charged under Section 39(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which could entail with a six-month prison stint, a fine of RM2,000, or both, if found guilty. The accused youth, who remains unnamed due to his status as a minor, reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The boy’s father was instead charged under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001. Under said act, the accused could face a 20-year prison term, a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both, if convicted. Like his offspring, the accused father also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Screenshots of the viral 90-sec video showing the 12-year-old being stopped and confronted by a woman for his late-night joyride in a Peordua Viva through the suburbs of Taman Putra Impiana, Puchong.

Prosecutors had initially requested the court to set bail at RM15,000 for the accused father, and at RM1,000 for the youth. However, the courts granted some clemency as both were released with lower bail amounts of RM8,000 and RM500 respectively, albeit with one surety.

The condition for lowered bails sees the boy’s father ordered by the court to report to the police every month and not to approach any witnesses in the case. Both were represented by lawyer Nabila Rosli and are set to appear in court again on Sept 4 for their case’s next mention.

Late last month, a woman recorded a video that soon went viral showing the 12-year-old boy on a late-night joyride in a Perodua Viva through the suburbs of Taman Putra Impiana, Puchong, Selangor. The boy had his two younger siblings in the car with him too.

After stopping and confronting the boy, the woman who recorded the 90-sec video proceeded to lodge a police report with the video evidence. That, along with said video’s ensuring online virality, prompted police to act.

Reports also indicate that this is NOT the first time said youth was seen illegally driving the same car through said neighbourhood.