SEGAMAT: The trailer driver involved in a fatal crash that claimed the lives of three family members has been charged with murder at the Magistrate’s Court here.
Muhamad Shafiq Salleh, 29, nodded to indicate that he understood the charge that was read to him before Magistrate Amalina Johar.
No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The accused is charged with causing the deaths of K. Myakrishnan, 72; his wife S. Sevendai, 65; and Sevendai’s brother S. Palamiandy, 75, at KM212 of the Johor Baru- Seremban Road, near the Taman Golden Hill junction in Gemas Baharu, at 3.50pm on April 2.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, Bernama reported.
If the death penalty is not imposed, the convicted person must be sentenced to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
No bail was offered for the accused.
The court set May 21 for a case mention to allow for the submission of post-mortem, medical, forensic, pathology and Puspakom reports.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur ‘Aina Muhammad Ismail Tadj appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
Besides the three killed in the accident, two others were injured after the trailer collided with the rear of the van carrying the victims at the Taman Golden Hill junction in Gemas Baharu.
