A 26-year-old Toyota Vellfire driver is facing the death penalty after being charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl in Kulai last month.
Choo De Hui appeared before Kulai Magistrate R. Salini today, where the charge was read to him in Mandarin. He indicated that he understood the charge.
According to the charge, Choo allegedly committed the offence between 12.20am and 12.33am on Aug 25 at the Persiaran Indahpura 4 roundabout, resulting in the teenager’s death.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years upon conviction. If the death penalty is not imposed, the offender must also be caned at least 12 times.
Choo was also charged with four counts of attempted murder involving four other individuals aged between 15 and 20. The alleged offences took place at the same time at Jalan Kiambang 9 and the Persiaran Indahpura 4 roundabout.
The four charges were brought under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine. If the offence causes injury, the maximum sentence is 20 years’ imprisonment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Weng Hong appeared for the prosecution, while Choo was not represented by a lawyer.
The court fixed Dec 2 for mention pending the completion of chemical and post-mortem reports.
In a separate case at the same court, four teenagers aged between 15 and 17 pleaded not guilty to jointly and intentionally committing mischief by smashing the rear windscreen and front left window of a Perodua Myvi.
They were accused of committing the offence at about 12.33am on Aug 25 at the Persiaran Indahpura 4 roundabout, causing losses to Lai Yun Zhe Jeff, 20.
They were charged under Section 426 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34.
Weng Hong applied for bail of RM3,000 for each teenager, while lawyer K.C. Lim, who represented all four, asked for a lower amount.
Salini subsequently set bail at RM2,500 for each accused, with one surety, and ordered that the bail be paid by their parents or guardians.
The court fixed Oct 28 for mention and document handover.
In the Aug 25 incident, a 17-year-old girl died after she was believed to have been thrown from a Perodua Myvi before being hit by a Toyota Vellfire at the Persiaran Indahpura 4 roundabout in Kulai at about 12.38am.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad previously said investigations indicated that the incident was believed to be linked to a membership conflict between two secret society groups in the Johor Bahru area.
He said, however, that the actual motive was still under investigation.
