KOTA TINGGI: A 32-year-old man has claimed trial to charges of causing the death of three men through dangerous driving.
Loo Chun Hao, who arrived in a wheelchair, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before Sessions judge Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin in the Pengerang court here on Monday (Dec 29).
According to the charge sheet, Loo is accused of driving dangerously, leading to the deaths of Muhammad Abdul Khalid Ab Rashid, 19, Muhammad Hafizhan Hanafi Norhaizal, 21, and Fazrizal Izuan Zuhaimi, 20, at KM56 of the Senai-Desaru Highway at about 11.45am on Oct 11.
He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of a RM50,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment upon conviction.
In the same court, Loo also pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967 for possessing RM3,894 worth of untaxed cigarettes.
Loo, a former e-hailing driver, was accused of committing the offence at the same place and time.
Prosecuting officer Insp Nor Ayu Hidayah M Safri requested bail of RM10,000 for the offence under the Customs Act and RM5,000 for each offence under the Road Transport Act 1987.
However, defence lawyer K. Sarawanan asked the court to offer a lower bail, as his client is currently unemployed and is recovering from the accident.
The judge set bail at RM15,000 with one surety for all the offences and fixed Feb 6 for next mention of the case and document submission.
