PEKAN, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- A technician from a company supplying agricultural goods and machinery pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court here today to a charge of reckless driving that caused the deaths of three victims in Pekan in June.
Syed Muhammad Izzat Aiman Syed Ahmad, 31, made the plea after the charge was read out before Magistrate Melody Woon Sze Mun.
According to the charge, the accused is charged with driving a four-wheel drive Isuzu D-Max recklessly at KM 67 Jalan Kuantan-Segamat, at 5.30 pm, June 19, causing the deaths of Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy Mohd Atan, 33, Dhea Sofia Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy, 2, and Azaharuddin Mohd Ali, 46.
The charge was brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides for a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 10 years and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamisah Ismail requested the court to set bail at RM15,000 and suspend the accused's driving licence until the case is resolved.
However, lawyer Muhamad Izwan Ishak, who represented the accused, applied for bail at a reasonable rate on the grounds that his client's wife is now three months pregnant, in addition to the accused only earning RM1,500 a month.
The court then allowed the accused to be bailed at RM7,000 with one surety and set an additional condition that the accused report to the Muadzam Shah Police Station, Rompin every Wednesday at 9 am.
The accused's driving licence was also suspended until the case is resolved, in addition to the court setting Sept 18 for the case to be mentioned again for the submission of documents.
On June 19, three individuals including a doctor died while six others were injured in an accident involving three vehicles at KM 67 Jalan Kuantan-Segamat near Pekan.
-- BERNAMA