KUCHING: A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving which caused the deaths of five people in a multi-vehicle crash on Jalan Stutong Baru here in January.
The teenager also pleaded guilty to underaged driving in the Magistrate's Court here on Wednesday (May 14).
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan fixed June 17 for next mention pending a probation report from the Welfare Department.
The accused was released on bail of RM5,000 with his parents as sureties.
According to the first charge, the teenager drove a vehicle recklessly on Jalan Stutong Baru at about 1.10pm on Jan 14, causing the deaths of five people aged 16 to 45.
The charge under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act carries a penalty of five to 10 years' jail and a fine of RM20,000 to RM50,000.
The second charge under Section 39(1) for driving under the age of 16 years is punishable with a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.
Dashcam footage of the Jan 14 incident showed an out-of-control car “flying” into the opposite lane and colliding with two other cars and two motorcycles.
Three men and a woman died at the scene while a 16-year-old boy died while receiving treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital.
The teen driver sustained a neck injury and was detained by police.
In a separate Magistrate's Court, the teenage driver's father pleaded guilty to leaving a child without reasonable supervision under Section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act.
He was accused of letting his son drive a vehicle despite knowing that the boy did not have a valid driving licence.
Assistant registrar Nuraini Ahmad sentenced the father to a fine of RM15,000 in default 12 months' jail.
She also ordered him to perform community service of 100 hours for a period of six months.
Both father and son were unrepresented.
