Cover image via The Borneo Post
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A 54-year-old man has been charged with negligence after his 2-year-old son drowned in an uncovered sewer pit in Sibu, Sarawak
The accused, Ling Hoe Hock, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Judge Musyiri Peet at the Sibu Sessions Court today, 30 September.
He was accused of leaving his son, Ethan Ling, unsupervised, which led to the child falling into the sewer and drowning around 6.20pm on 4 August.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at Jalan Dr Wong Soon Kai after receiving an emergency call at 6.29pm.
Rescuers found the child's body floating inside the sewer around 7pm.
The father faces a maximum fine of RM50,000 and imprisonment of up to 20 years
He was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Deputy public prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry proposed bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties, citing the risk of the accused absconding.
Deputy public prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry proposed RM10,000 bail with two local sureties, citing the risk of the accused absconding.
She also told the court that he is currently unemployed and caring for three children, while his wife, who used to work in Singapore, is now jobless.
The court set bail at RM7,000 and fixed 30 October for case management.
