14-year-old boy caught driving motorbike; father, neighbour sentenced to jail for letting him ride bike

MALAPPURAM: The father of a 14-year-old boy and a neigbhour were sentenced to jail and fined after the boy was caught driving a motorbike. While Abdul Nazeer (55), the child's father was asked to pay a fine of Rs 25,000, bike owner and neigbhour Fousiya (38) was asked to pay Rs 5000. It was Fousiya who gave the bike to the 14-year-old. The court also sentenced both Nazeer and Fousiya to 1 day in jail. They can return to their homes after paying the fines and remaining in jail till 5 pm.

The incident took place on September 1 last year. The 14-year-old student was riding the bike owned by Fousiya on the Mambra Kadungathukundu road when the motor vehicle inspector of the Malappuram Enforcement Regional Transport Office waved at him to stop the bike. Upon checking, the MVD officials found that the boy was underage and that he did not possess a license. Following this, the MVD registered a case against the child's parent and RC owner under Sections 180 and 199A of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.