JOHOR BAHRU: A sales promoter who was acquitted and discharged for reckless driving over an accident which resulted in the death of eight teenage boys exactly four years ago was ordered by the High Court here today to enter her defence.
Judge Shahanaz Sulaiman made the decision after finding that the prosecution had made a prima facie case against Sam Ke Ting, 26, thus setting aside the magistrates’ court’s decision to acquit and discharge the accused on Oct 28, 2019.
Sam, who was then at the wheel of a car, with registration number JQB 9984, was charged with reckless driving, causing the death of eight teenage cyclists, who were using modified bicycles or “basikal lajak”, at the Middle Ring Road, here, at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.
She was charged with causing the death of Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14 and Haizad Kasrin, 16.
The charge was framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine not exceeding RM20,000, upon conviction.
The accused was allowed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
The court also ordered Sam to surrender her driving licence and passport and fixed three days starting May 9 for the trial.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali prosecuted while Sam was represented by Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar.