KUCHING: A 15-year-old male teenager has pleaded guilty to reckless driving leading to the deaths of five in a multi-vehicle crash here in January.
The teenager also pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to underage driving.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan fixed June 17 for sentencing pending a probation report from the Welfare Department.
The teenager was released on a RM5,000 bail with his parents standing as sureties.
In the first charge under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act, the teenager was accused of driving a vehicle recklessly in Jalan Stutong Baru at 1.10pm on Jan 14, causing the deaths of five persons aged from 16 to 45.
The charge 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) of the same Act for driving under the age of 16 is punishable with a fine not exceeding RM2,000, a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.
Dashcam footage of the incident shows an out-of-control car veering into the opposite lane and colliding with two other cars and two motorcycles.
Three men and a woman died at the scene, and a 16-year-old boy died while receiving treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital.
The accused sustained a neck injury and was detained by police.
In a separate Magistrate’s Court, the accused’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 he did not have a valid driving licence.
Assistant registrar Nuraini Ahmad imposed a fine of RM15,000 in default 12 months’ jail. She also ordered him to perform community service of 100 hours over a period of six months.
The son and father were unrepresented.
