Facing five offences, he pleads not guilty to all
KUALA LUMPUR: An Immigration Department driver has been charged with five traffic offences, including dangerous driving, following a crash that killed three family members.
Mohd Akbar Zainol, 43, pleaded not guilty to all charges after they were read out before magistrate Aliaa Anwar.
On the first three charges, Mohd Akbar, 43, is accused of driving an Isuzu “Black Maria” lorry dangerously, causing the deaths of Shaik Mohd Firdaus Shaikh Yahya, 53, and his daughters Siti Norshazlin, 24, and Siti Darwisyah Auni, 12, along Jalan Sultan Ismail at 1am on Aug 19.
The charge under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries imprisonment between five and 10 years and fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000 as well as disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least five years, upon conviction.
On the fourth count, he is accused of careless and inconsiderate driving that injured Shaik Mohd Firdaus’ wife, Nor Hayati Rozali, 55, at the same location and time.
Framed under Section 43(1) of the same Act, the charge carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM10,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, upon conviction.
The fifth charge alleges he failed to obey traffic lights by running a red light at the Jalan Sultan Ismail junction.
He was charged under Section 79(2) of the same Act and faces a fine between RM300 and RM2,000, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Syajaratudur Abd Rahman offered bail at RM15,000 in one surety for each of the offences.
She also requested additional bail conditions requiring the accused to report to a police station monthly and surrender his passport to the court.
Lawyer Izzat Amir Saharudin who represented Mohd Akbar asked for a minimum bail amount as his client was supporting his school-going child and an elderly mother.
He said Mohd Akbar had served for 11 years at the Immigration Department and did not possess any prior records and that he was not a flight risk.
“Bail is only meant to ensure the attendance in court and the accused is not guilty until proven so. My client will give his cooperation and attend court proceedings,” he said.
The court set total bail at RM12,000 across all charges, granted the additional conditions and suspended the accused’s driving licence pending the outcome of the case.
The case is fixed for mention on Oct 27.
