A Police Corporal pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here today to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of a motorcyclist in Kangar in late November.
The 38-year-old accused, who is stationed at Kangar Police Station, claimed trial after the charge was read before Magistrate Nurul Natasha Rizal.
Additionally, the accused also faced another charge of driving a vehicle negligently, causing serious injury to another motorcyclist.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Zulhairi Shunazar, as the driver of a pickup truck, was charged with driving dangerously, resulting in the death of motorcyclist Muhammad Firdaus Aiman Zainon, 24.
For the other charge, the accused was charged with driving a vehicle without due care and attention, thereby causing an accident and inflicting serious injuries on a motorcyclist named Aliff Noorhakim Alijesree, 25.
The accused was charged with committing the offences on 25 November last year on Jalan Persiaran Wawasan, opposite the Perlis State Legislative Assembly Complex in Kangar, at 10:20 p.m.
As such, the accused was charged with offences punishable under Section 41(1) and Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
If convicted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act (RTA) 1987, Muhammad Zulhairi Shunazar could be fined not more than RM50,000 and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
Furthermore, the accused may also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for not less than five years or disqualified for 10 years from the date of conviction.
Additionally, for the offence under Section 43(1) of the RTA 1987, the accused could be fined not more than RM10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 12 months, and his driving licence could be suspended or revoked.
The prosecution was conducted by Prosecuting Officer, Inspector S Mageswaran from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), while the accused was represented by lawyer Hasnor Arysha Hamdan from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK).
Mageswaran, in his application, requested the court to set bail at RM9,000 for the accused for both charges.
At the same time, Mageswaran also applied for the accused’s driving licence to be suspended.
Meanwhile, Hasnor requested the court to consider a minimum bail amount, as his client has a wife and three children aged between three and 10 to support.
Additionally, the accused also has to support his elderly mother and a sibling who is still studying.
Hasnor also stated that his client has no prior criminal convictions and poses no flight risk as he lives and resides in Perlis.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Nurul Natasha set bail at RM5,000 for the accused for both charges.
Furthermore, the accused’s driving licence was also suspended until the trial concludes.
The court set 28 January next year as the date for the next mention of the case.
