Parents Fined, Sentenced to 440 Hours of Community Service for Starving Seven-Year-Old
A Johor couple was fined RM17,000 (approximately SGD 5,094) and ordered to perform 440 hours of community service after pleading guilty to neglecting and abusing a seven-year-old boy. The child, who is the biological son of one of the accused, was locked in a bathroom, starved, and forced to drink toilet water. The Sessions Court in Johor Bahru handed down the sentence on February 4, 2025, highlighting the severity of child neglect cases in Malaysia.
On February 4, 2025, the Johor Bahru Sessions Court sentenced R. Thayalan (39) and his girlfriend K. Mageswari (41) after they were found guilty of neglecting Thayalan’s seven-year-old son. The abuse occurred between July and October 2023 in Taman Pulai Jaya, Johor. The case revealed shocking details of prolonged abuse, with the boy suffering severe malnutrition after being confined to a bathroom without proper food or water.
The court heard that the child was locked in a bathroom for extended periods, forced to drink toilet water, and given minimal food—just a piece of bread and a small portion of rice daily. The abuse left the boy severely malnourished, and he was rushed to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) upon rescue.
The accused pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of RM20,000 (SGD 5,993) or five years in prison. Judge Thalha Bachok imposed a fine of RM8,000 (SGD 2,397) on Thayalan and RM9,000 (SGD 2,697) on Mageswari. Both were also ordered to perform 200 and 240 hours of community service, respectively, to be completed within six months.
In a statement read during the trial, the child described the trauma he endured. “I used to live with my father and his girlfriend, whom I called ‘sister.’ She forced me to drink toilet water and only gave me bread and rice. Now, I’m afraid to go to school because I fear she will find me,” he said. The child is currently under the care of his biological mother in Selangor but remains traumatized.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Maisarah Hassan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, emphasizing the severity of the neglect. She stressed that the father’s role as a parent made the offense particularly egregious, calling the case “heartbreaking” due to the betrayal of parental duty.
Defense lawyer P. Rajagunaseelan requested a lighter sentence, citing financial hardship. Thayalan works as a factory van driver earning RM1,500–1,800 (SGD 449–539) per month and supplements his income by washing cars. Mageswari is unemployed. Despite these claims, the court maintained that the gravity of the crime warranted a firm response.
This case underscores the importance of child protection laws and serves as a stark reminder for both Malaysians and international residents, including Singaporeans living or working in Johor, about the legal consequences of child neglect. It also highlights Malaysia’s growing focus on child welfare, which may influence regional discussions on child protection policies across Southeast Asia.
Sources: Malay Mail, The Star (2025)
Keywords: Johor, Child Neglect, RM17,000 Fine, Community Service, Child Abuse, Sessions Court, Malaysia, Parental Neglect, Legal Case, Victim Statement
