The accused, Rudi Zulkarnain, being brought to court on Friday (May 16). - Photo courtesy of Sinar Harian
TELUK INTAN: A 45-year-old lorry driver has been charged at the Magistrate's Court here on Friday (May 16) with dangerous driving that resulted in the death of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel on Tuesday (May 13), Sinar Harian reports.
The accused, Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, from Kampung Kota, Hilir Perak, pleaded not guilty to the nine charges read to him before Sessions Court Judge Norhamizah Shaiffudin, the Malay language daily reported.
For the first charge, the accused, as the driver of a lorry, was charged with driving dangerously in a manner that caused the death of S. Perumal, 44.
The act is alleged to have been committed at KM15 of Jalan Sungai Manik in the Hilir Perak district at approximately 9.05am on May 13, 2025.
For the second to ninth charges, the accused is alleged to have committed the same act, causing the deaths of Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46; Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41; Nurit Pandak, 34; Amiruddin Zabri, 38; Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38; Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35; Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33; and Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28, at the same place, time, and date.
The charges were brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which provides for imprisonment between five and 10 years and a maximum fine not exceeding RM50,000, as well as disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for not less than five years, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan offered bail of RM10,000 for each charge with additional conditions that the accused's driving licence be suspended until the case is resolved in court and that he reports to the police station weekly.
The accused, who is single, was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Francais Sinnappan, who requested minimal bail on the grounds of inability to pay due to an income of less than RM2,000 per month and suffering from asthma.
The court then set bail at RM6,000 for all charges and allowed the additional conditions as proposed by the prosecution.
The case is set for mention and appointment of counsel on June 17.
The incident occurred when a truck carrying 18 FRU Unit 5 members based in Sungai Senam, Ipoh, collided with a gravel-laden lorry that veered into the opposite lane.
The collision resulted in eight FRU members dying at the scene and one succumbing to injuries at Teluk Intan Hospital, while nine others were injured, some critically.
During the incident, the FRU vehicle was returning to Ipoh along with six other FRU vehicles after completing duties for the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan.
