JOHOR BARU: A 34-year-old foreman was charged at a Magistrate’s Court here for driving under the influence and causing the death of a married couple.
S. Nageshvaran pleaded not guilty to the two separate charges read before Magistrate Nor Farhana Mohd Ishak on Tuesday (Nov 26).
The accused was first charged with causing the death of one Linda Mohd A. Aziz at an intersection of Jalan Besar and Jalan Masjid at around 4.15am on Nov 16.
He was separately charged in the same court with causing the death of Linda’s husband Mohamad Redzwan Mohd Rudi at the same time and place.
Nageshvaran was accused of driving a car with a blood alcohol content of 170mg per 100ml, which exceeded the limit of 50mg per 100ml.
The offence was framed under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and liable for punishment under the same section under the same act (amended 2020), which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of up to RM100,000 if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Insp S. Vikineswary offered bail at RM15,000 for each of the two charges.
Nageshvaran's lawyer Sarawanakumar Kanan asked for a lower bail, saying that the accused was his family’s sole breadwinner.
“He works as a foreman with a pay of RM2,000 and he has to take care of his parents and four siblings,” he added.
Magistrate Nor Farhana then set bail at RM6,000 with one surety for each of the charges.
The court also ordered for the suspension of the accused’s driving licence, report to the Johor Jaya police station twice a month and surrender his passport.
The court set Jan 14 next year for next mention and submission of documents.
It was reported that the couple - a 37-year-old man and his 35-year-old pillion rider - sustained severe injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
