Thursday April 6, 2006
Overseer pleads not guilty
By M. MAGESWARI
KUALA LUMPUR: In a first, a construction site supervisor was charged yesterday with manslaughter and abetment in causing the death of corporate consultant Dr Liew Boon Horng through negligence last year.
Khew Ah Sum, 48, was said to have committed the offence at the Plaza Damas construction site (second phase) in Jalan Hartamas here on Dec 30.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years' jail, or a fine or both under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code.
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FACING TRIAL: Khew being led out of court after being charged yesterday. — Bernamapic |
He was said to have committed the offence with two construction workers – Hasibudin Abd Razak and Suradi Hassan.
If found guilty, he can be jailed up to two years or fined or both under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 304A of the same Code.
Speaking to reporters later, DPP Zahruddin Mohamed Isa said Hasibudin and Suradi would be prosecution witnesses.
Khew, who was arrested on Tuesday, was attached to San Meng Construction – a subcontractor for a property developer.
Dr Liew, the managing consultant of Ethos Consultant, was killed when an iron mould, weighing almost two tonnes, fell on his BMW as it was being driven into the car park of Plaza Damas that day.
The iron mould fell off the 20th floor of one of the two condominium-cum-office blocks under construction.
Dr Liew, who was seated in the front passenger seat, died on the spot while his wife Joanne Loy, 35, who sat behind the driver, was warded at the University Malaya Medical Centre with internal bleeding. The couple have two daughters, aged four and six.
The driver, Ahmad Harun Jajuli, 50, sustained head injuries.
At the outset of the Sessions Court proceedings yesterday, Khew asked for the charges to be read to him in Mandarin. The court stood down for a short while.
When his case was called at 10.45am, he pleaded not guilty.
DPP Zahruddin asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 in one surety.
Khew, who was unrepresented, asked for a lower bail, saying he came from a poor family.
“I want to be released on bail soon so that I can appoint a lawyer fast,” he added.
Judge Rohani Ismail fixed bail at RM8,000 in one surety and ordered that his closest family member be his bailor.
She set May 26 for mention.
Khew later called his wife to post bail.
Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo and counsel C.H. Loh held a watching brief for Liew’s family. DPP Nor Farihan Mohd Karid also appeared for the prosecution.
Gobind Singh said later that Loy was contemplating filing a suit against the construction company for the death of her husband and for her injuries.
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