Court appearance: P. Mohan (centre) pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court today to a charge of dangerous driving. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: A trader claimed trial in the Magistrate’s Court here for reckless driving, which led to the death of a 20-year-old motorcyclist.
P. Mohan, 44, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before magistrate Nurul Farha Sulaiman.
The accused, who was then driving a van, was alleged to have caused the death of Muhammad Annas Iskandar Mohd Khairi at the traffic light junction in Matahari Heights along Jalan Persiaran Senawang 1 at 11.59pm on May 3.
He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act, which carries a jail term of between five and 10 years and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000 upon conviction.
The court will also bar those convicted from holding a driving licence for at least five years.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadia Ezzati Mohd Zainal asked the court for another mention date, as the chemistry, forensics and Puspakom reports were not ready.
She also asked for bail to be set at RM15,000 with one surety and that Mohan’s driving licence be suspended until the case is disposed of.
Mohan’s counsel, Rajindar Singh, said the bail amount proposed by the prosecution was high and suggested RM5,000 instead.
“The purpose of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused in court, but the amount has to be reasonable.
He explained that the accused earns between RM3,000 and RM3,500 a month and has to provide for his two children who are still studying, adding that Mohan’s wife was a florist.
Rajindar said Mohan was screened for substance abuse following the accident and the results had cleared him of it.
Magistrate Nurul Farha then set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and ordered Mohan’s driving licence to be suspended until the case is disposed of. She fixed July 3 for mention.
In another case, a 32-year-old man was charged in a Magistrate’s Court here with the murder of his father-in-law. No plea was recorded from V. Karthiy after the charge was read to him before judge Hazeelia Muhammad as the case came under the purview of the High Court.
The court charged the factory worker with assault and repeatedly punching 52-year-old P. Sasi Kumar in the chest, which resulted in his death.
He allegedly committed the offence at around 2.30pm on April 27 at a house in Taman Rahang near here.
Karthiy was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty upon conviction or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Nur Aqilah Syarfa Nik Zaidi told the court the offence was non-bailable and asked for a remention date as the post-mortem and chemistry reports were not ready.
Hazeeliyah fixed the remention on June 18.
