A police corporal pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today to charges of dangerous and careless driving linked to a fatal accident in Kangar last month.
The accused, Muhammad Zulhairi Shunazar Abdul Shukor, 38, who is attached to the Kangar police station, claimed trial after the charges were read before Magistrate Nurul Natasha Rizal.
He is accused of driving dangerously while operating a pick-up truck, causing a crash that resulted in the death of motorcyclist Muhammad Firdaus Aiman Zainon, 24. He also faces a second charge of careless driving that allegedly caused serious injuries to another motorcyclist, Aliff Noorhakim Alijesree, 25.
The offences are alleged to have occurred on Nov 25 at about 10.20pm along Jalan Persiaran Wawasan. Zulhairi was charged under Section 41(1) and Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
If convicted under Section 41(1), he faces a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both, as well as disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for between five and 10 years. For the charge under Section 43(1), the penalty includes a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, in addition to licence suspension or disqualification.
Police prosecuting officer Inspector S. Mageswaran requested bail of RM9,000 for both charges and sought the suspension of the accused’s driving licence. Defence counsel Hasnor Arysha Hamdan from the National Legal Aid Foundation appealed for a lower bail, citing her client’s family responsibilities, lack of prior criminal record and low flight risk.
The court set bail at RM5,000 for both charges and ordered the suspension of the accused’s driving licence until the conclusion of the trial. The case has been fixed for mention on Jan 28.
