Accused pleads not guilty to all 16 charges
GERIK: The bus driver involved in an accident which killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik this week has been slapped with 16 charges in court.
Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle, 39, was charged with 15 counts of dangerous driving resulting in death and one charge of driving in a manner dangerous to the public.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges before magistrate Muhammad Firdaus Nor Azlan yesterday.
Mohd Amirul allegedly committed the offences at approximately 1.15am on June 9 at KM53 of the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway, thereby causing the death of 15 UPSI students.
The students who perished in the tragedy were Fakhrul Arif Rosdi, 20; Mohammad Aqil Taqiuddin Mohd Sofian, 21; Nik Amni Nadiah Nik Nor Zabir, 21; Nurul Fatihah Abu Setaman, 22; Nurul Izyanti Muhamad Azahar, 21; Sufea Adela Maslihaizan, 21; Nur Ainul Qistina Mat Ali, 21; Nur Dalila Farhana Mohamad Isma, 21; Nurly Sahirah Azman, 23; Fatin Nasrien Fadli, 22; Muhammad Mustaqim Rosde, 21; Anis Soffiyya Md Zaidi, 20; Nor Ayuni Maslan, 21; Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, 21; and Wan Nur Suhaila Wan Muhammad, 22.
He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by dangerous driving.
The offence carries a jail term of five to 10 years, a fine of up to RM50,000 and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a minimum of five years, upon conviction.
The additional charge was under Section 42(1) of the same Act for reckless and dangerous driving.
The section provides for imprisonment of up to five years, a minimum fine of RM5,000 or both, and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than five years, upon conviction.
The court granted bail at RM19,000 in two sureties.
The accused was also ordered to report weekly to the nearest police station.
His driving licences were suspended pending the disposal of the case.
The court then fixed July 14 for next mention to enable the accused to appoint a lawyer, Bernama reported.
Perak prosecution director Muhammad Zaki Abdul Kudos and deputy public prosecutors Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani and Moganaraj Mithra appeared for the prosecution.
In the crash on Monday, 15 UPSI students were killed and 33 others injured when the bus they were travelling in overturned along the highway, near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
