Contractor charged with reckless driving, causing siblings' death

SUNGAI SIPUT - A contractor pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here today to two counts of reckless driving resulting in the deaths of two brothers last week.

On the first count, Lee Kin Peng, 52, was charged with driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle in a dangerous manner, causing the death of Ahmad Zuhal Norazlan, 17.

On the second count, he was charged with committing the same offence leading to the death of Ahmad Marikh Norazlan, 13.

The offences were allegedly committed at KM38 Jalan Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar here between 7 am and 7.15 am on April 5.

The charges were framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of not more than RM50,000 upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor S.Vitthiyeswary proposed bail of RM10,000 for each charge, with additional conditions that the accused surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearby police station every two weeks.

Lee’s lawyer S. Morgan appealed for a lower bail of RM5,000 for both charges on the grounds that the accused has three school-going children and only earns RM2,000 a month.

Magistrate Nurul Asyifa Redzuan allowed Lee bail of RM6,000 with one surety for both charges and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court, report himself at a police station once a month, and not disturb any witnesses.

The court then fixes June 11 for mention.

On April 5, media outlets reported that two siblings, both students, died when their motorcycle was hit by a four-wheel-drive vehicle at KM 38.9 of Jalan Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar.

Sungai Siput police chief Superintendent Mohd Khaizam Ahmad Shahabudin said the accident occurred when the two victims, aged 13 and 17, were on their way to their school on a Honda EX5 motorcycle. - BERNAMA