JOHOR BARU: A Singaporean civil servant was charged in the Magistrate’s Court today with allegedly causing a motorcyclist's death on the Second Link Expressway last Friday.
The accused, Muhammad Irsyad Abdul Hameed, 27, pleaded not guilty after the amended charge was read before Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Irsyad allegedly drove a Maserati dangerously on a public road, resulting in the death of 32-year-old A. Vasanthraj.
The offence allegedly occurred at Kilometre -0.6 of the Second Link Expressway, Johor Bahru, Johor, around 6.40pm on 9 May.
The charge was brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and is punishable under the same section.
This provision carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine not exceeding RM50,000 if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amirah Tasnim Saleh prosecuted the case, while lawyers Baharudin Bahrim and Zarina Ismail Tom represented the accused.
In mitigation, the defence requested the return of his passport, citing that he is a government official who might lose his job, and he would cooperate with the investigation.
However, the court set bail at RM12,000 with two local sureties and directed the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month.
The accused's driving licence will be suspended until the case is concluded.
The next hearing is set for June 10.
