- A driver who operated an Immigration Department 'Black Maria' lorry in a crash that claimed the lives of three family members has been slapped with five charges including reckless driving at the Magistrate's Court.
- Mohd Akbar Zainol, 43, pleaded not guilty to all charges after they were read before magistrate Aliaa Anwar on Thursday (Aug 20).
- For the first three charges, Mohd Akbar was accused of driving an Isuzu 'Black Maria' lorry dangerously and causing the deaths of Shaik Mohd Firdaus Shaikh Yahya, 53, and his two daughters Siti Norshazlin, 24, and Siti Darwisyah Auni, 12, along Jalan Sultan Ismail at 1am on Aug 19.
- The charges, framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, carry a prison term of between five and 10 years, a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000, and disqualification from holding a driving licence for at least five years upon conviction.
- For the fourth charge, Mohd Akbar was accused of careless and inconsiderate driving resulting in injury to Shaik Mohd Firdaus' wife, Nor Hayati Rozali, 55, at the same location and time.
- The charge under Section 43(1) of the same Act carries a fine between RM5,000 and RM10,000, alongside a potential prison term of up to 12 months upon conviction.
- For the fifth charge, Mohd Akbar allegedly failed to obey traffic regulations by running a red light at the junction of Jalan Sultan Ismail at the same time and place.
- He was charged under Section 79(2) of the same Act, which carries a fine between RM300 and RM2,000 upon conviction.
- The court set bail at RM12,000 for each charge, granted the additional bail conditions, and suspended the accused's driving licence pending disposal of the case.
- The case has been fixed for mention on Oct 27.
Mohd Akbar Zainol, 43, faces five charges, including reckless driving, after a tragic accident on August 19 claimed the lives of Shaik Mohd Firdaus Shaikh Yahya, 53, and his daughters Siti Norshazlin, 24, and Siti Darwisyah Auni, 12, in Kuala Lumpur.13
The charges stem from an incident where Akbar allegedly drove an Isuzu 'Black Maria' lorry dangerously along Jalan Sultan Ismail at 1am, resulting in the fatalities. The first three charges, framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, could lead to a prison term of five to ten years and fines ranging from RM20,000 to RM50,000 upon conviction.4
Additionally, he faces a fourth charge for careless driving that injured Nor Hayati Rozali, 55, the wife of the deceased, and a fifth charge for running a red light. The latter charge carries a fine of RM300 to RM2,000.57
During the court proceedings, Deputy public prosecutor Syajaratudur Abd Rahman proposed bail at RM15,000 for each offense, while defense lawyer Izzat Amir Saharudin requested a lower amount, citing Akbar's family responsibilities. The court ultimately set bail at RM12,000 per charge and suspended his driving license pending the case's outcome, with the next court mention scheduled for October 27.9
“The charges under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carry a prison term of five to 10 years and a fine up to RM50,000. The court set bail at RM12,000 per charge, suspended his licence, and fixed mention for Oct 27.”
The Star
