ALOR GAJAH: Four teenagers, including a Form Two female student, pleaded guilty at a Magistrate’s Court here to injuring an e-hailing driver after allegedly failing to pay for the fare.
The accused, comprising two boys aged 15 and 17 years old, and two girls both aged 14 years old, entered the plea before Magistrate Dr Teoh Shu Yee after the charges were read out on Wednesday (May 20).
According to the charge, all four accused, acting with common intention, voluntarily caused hurt to the 42-year-old female driver using a dangerous weapon or means, namely an iron rod, and by strangling the victim, causing injuries.
The offence was allegedly committed in an area near a forest in Kuala Sungai Baru here at 12.30am on May 4.
They charges were framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which provides for a three-year jail term or a fine, or whipping upon conviction.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhamad Ehsan Nasarudin proposed bail at RM2,000 for each accused.
However, lawyer Goh Jee Chee from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), who represented the teenagers, appealed for a lower bail amount.
The court allowed bail at RM1,000 each and ordered that the juveniles be accompanied by their guardians whenever attending court proceedings.
The case was fixed for mention on June 24 pending the submission of obtain juvenile probationary reports from the Social Welfare Department.
On Monday (May 18), the media reported that the driver suffered injuries after she was allegedly assaulted by a group of teenagers, including two 14-year-old girls, in Kuala Sungai Baru after they allegedly had no money to pay the fare.
The victim reportedly sustained bruises and swelling on her head, body, legs and hands, as well as strangulation marks on her neck during the incident.
Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ahmad Abu Bakar was reported as saying that the incident occurred after the victim picked up four passengers, including a Form Two female student, from the Bukit Rambai here.
He said the group, including three other teenagers who had already dropped out of school, had wanted to travel to Kuala Sungai Baru and booked the ride through the e-hailing application.
