KOTA TINGGI: A former e-hailing driver claimed trial to three charges of causing the deaths of three men by dangerous driving here.
The accused, Loo Chun Hao, 32, who arrived in a wheelchair, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin at the Pengerang Magistrate’s Court here.
According to the charge sheet, Loo’s dangerous driving led 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’ jail 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 some RM3,894 worth of untaxed cigarettes.
Loo, now jobless, was accused of committing the offence at the same place and time.
The prosecution requested bail to be set at RM10,000 for the offence under the Customs Act 1967 and RM5,000 under the Road Transport Act 1987.
However, Loo’s lawyer pleaded for a lower bail, saying his client was currently unemployed and recovering from the accident.
The court set bail at RM15,000 with one surety for the offences and fixed Feb 6 for next mention and document submission. The accused posted bail.
