KOTA BARU: A 57-year-old teacher has claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court here to two charges of negligence involving a car crash that killed a Form One student and injured another at a secondary school in April.
Sakinah Ismail pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Magistrate Wan Mohd I'zzat Wan Abdullah on Tuesday (Oct 13).
For the first charge, she was accused of causing the death of a 13-year-old girl through negligence near the surau of SMK Tanjong Mas at about 1.40pm on April 12.
She was charged under Section 304A of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine or both upon conviction.
For the second charge, Sakinah was accused of negligently hitting another Form One girl with a SUV at the same location and time, endangering the student's life.
The charge under Section 336 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of three months, a fine of up to RM500 or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Nadzir Abdullah prosecuted, while Sakinah was represented by lawyers Muhammad Hasif Hasan and Wan Fadhil Fayyadh Wan Mohd Zuhairi.
The prosecution proposed bail of RM3,000 for both charges with one surety.
However, Muhammad Hasif sought a lower bail amount, saying his client was a disciplined teacher who had cooperated with the authorities and had no previous criminal record.
He said Sakinah, who lives in Kota Baru, had received the Excellent Service Award twice and was named the school's best personality teacher in 2025.
She is due to retire on Nov 16, 2027.
The court allowed bail of RM2,000 with one surety for both charges and fixed Dec 6 for mention and submission of documents.
It was previously reported that Nur Fatimatul Hawa Mohd Azaudin, 13, died at the scene at about 1.30pm on April 12 after she was hit by a car while putting on her shoes outside the school surau.
