BUTTERWORTH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is finalising its investigation for action to be taken in court against the bus company operator involved in the accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the investigation papers would be handed over to the Deputy Public Prosecutor soon to decide on the charge.
"There are two investigation papers that we are preparing, against the company operator and also the company that leased the bus. We expect to hand them over to the prosecution soon," he said at a press conference after officiating the Penang-level MyLesen B2 Driving Licence Handover Ceremony here on Friday (June 20).
Previously, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook had said that the JPJ would open an investigation paper against the bus company involved in the accident that claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students due to the company's failure to operate according to the stipulated rules and regulations.
Regarding the allegation that the JPJ could not record the bus company operator's statement because he suffered a heart attack, Aedy Fadly said they were not told about the matter.
"It has nothing to do with the JPJ and I have not received any reports saying otherwise. We will still take action. If he goes to the hospital, we will wait," he said.
In the June 9 incident, 15 UPSI students died when the bus they were in overturned in an accident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik.
The bus carrying 42 university students was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to the university's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak when it collided with a multi-purpose vehicle before overturning. – Bernama
