SUNGAI PETANI: A 13-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to attempting to rob an ehailing driver at the Sungai Petani Magistrate's Court on Sunday (Dec 3).

The boy, who was accompanied by both parents, was seen to be calm when brought into court before the charges began.

Based on the charge sheet, he attempted to rob Lee Ang Hie, 65, at the roadside along Jalan Taman Keladi, Sungai Petani, at around 6pm on Nov 27.

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He was charged under Section 393 of the Penal Code for attempted robbery, which provides a maximum jail term of seven years upon conviction and can be fined.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Amirul Halimi Md Salleh, who prosecuted the case, asked for bail to be set at RM4,000 with one surety.

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Magistrate Khairatul Animah Jelani allowed bail to be reduced to RM2,000 with one surety.

The teenager was represented by Duratul Ain Mahmud Morshidi from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

The court set Jan 17, 2024, for mention, for the appointment of a lawyer and the submission of documents.

The boy was earlier seen walking hand in hand with his parents into the courthouse.

It was reported that the boy tried to stab and rob a ehailing driver in Taman Keladi, near here, at about 6pm on Nov 27.

The ehailing driver did not sustain any injuries but instead bit the suspect's hand and managed to disarm the suspect after which the teenager got out of the car and fled.

The teenager's action was recorded by the 'dashboard' camera installed in the ehailing driver's car and the one-minute and 32-second video went viral on social media.

The teenager was arrested by police at 10pm following a report made by the driver at 8pm on the day of the incident.