KUANTAN: A jobless man who rammed into a motorcyclist on Monday was charged in the Special Traffic Court here for drunk driving, resulting in death.
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Mandave Singh Kulwant Singh, 25, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read out by a court interpreter before Magistrate Nor Izzati Zakaria.
He was charged with driving a Toyota Avanza vehicle under the influence of alcohol which exceeded the permitted limit causing the death of motorcyclist Muhammad Akmal Hakim Misnan along Jalan Sungai Lembing about 1.10am on March 1.
When the interpreter asked Mandave Singh if he understood the charge, the bespectacled man who was clad in a black T-shirt and grey shorts nodded his head prompting the interpreter to ask him to speak if he understood.
The accused told the court that he understood the charge and claimed trial.
Mandave Singh was charged under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides a jail sentence of not less than 10 years and not more than 15, and a minimum fine of RM50,000 and a maximum of RM100,000, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani said due to the severity of the punishment, the accused must not be granted bail.
“However, if the court allows then the prosecution proposes a RM20,000 bail with two sureties. Other additional conditions include reporting to the nearest police station once a month, driving licence be suspended until the case is over and surrender his international passport to the court,” he said.
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Lawyer Farah Naz Kumar pleaded for a lower bail saying the court should consider the accused family’s financial situation.
“The accused has just completed his studies at a local higher learning institution and is yet to secure a job. His father works as a taxi driver earning about RM1,500 a month but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his income has been unstable.
“The accused mother is a housewife while his other sibling has health problems. If the bail imposed is too high, the accused father will not be able to pay the amount…the accused will provide his full cooperation and the court can impose other additional conditions,” she said.
Nor Izzati allowed RM10,000 bail in two sureties, and ordered Mandave Singh to report to the police station once a month, hand over his passport to the court and driving licence be suspended until the end of his case.
She fixed April 23 for case management.
Akmal Hakim, 22, was killed after the Avanza driver allegedly ploughed into his motorcycle and dragged the machine about 1.5km before coming to a stop. The victim was thrown off while his motorcycle remained wedged in the front bumper.
The accused is believed to have consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel of his vehicle and later crashing into Akmal Hakim who was travelling along in the same direction.- NST