High Court dismisses woman's appeal, upholds jail term for driving against traffic flow and causing fatal accident

BUTTERWORTH (Bernama): The High Court here has dismissed the appeal by a former model who was found guilty of recklessly driving against the traffic flow, resulting in the death of a man three years ago.

On Friday (Oct 29), Judge Datuk Amirudin Abd Rahman upheld Ng Pei Ven’s jail sentence of five years and fine of RM18,000 handed down by a Magistrate’s Court in June last year after the prosecution successfully proved that Ng had driven against the flow of traffic along the North-South Highway, causing an accident that killed motorist Mohamad Fandi Rosli.

Her probationary licence has also been revoked, and she is not allowed to have a new driving permit for five years from the date of conviction.

In his judgment, Amirudin found the previous sentence was in accordance with the law and was not extreme as the offence committed by Ng was very serious, endangering other road users.

The court also considered the case one of public interest, and the punishment imposed was literal, that is, preventing the accused from repeating the mistake as well as teaching a lesson to the public.

Deputy public prosecutor Ainy Suhailah Yunus prosecuted, while lawyer Cheah Eng Soon represented Ng.

In June last year, a Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court allowed Ng’s application for a stay of execution pending appeal and raised the bail to RM12,000 from RM7,000 previously.

On March 24, 2017, Ng pleaded not guilty to reckless and dangerous driving resulting in the death of Mohamad Fandi, 26, northbound on the North-South Expressway at 7.50am on March 14 the same year.

She was charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to RM20,000 upon conviction. – Bernama