Nurrul Azrina Arza (left) and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali (right) files an appeal notice on the acquittal of a salesgirl from dangerous driving and causing the death of eight teen joyride cyclists four years ago Sam Ke Ting
Nurrul Azrina Arza (left) and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali (right) files an appeal notice on the acquittal of a salesgirl from dangerous driving and causing the death of eight teen joyride cyclists four years ago.

By Ernalisa Othman

JOHOR BAHRU – The Johor Prosecution Department and Attorney-General’s Chamber had filed an appeal on the acquittal of a salesgirl from her charges of dangerous driving and causing the death of eight teenage joyride cyclists four years ago.

The appeal was filed by the Johor Assistant Legal Advisor, Nurul Azrina Arza and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali at about 9.15 am at the Johor Bahru Magistrate / Sessions Court today.

Muhammad Syafiq said that the appeal was filed after receiving an order from the Attorney-General’s Chamber (AGC) and Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Idrus Harun yesterday.

Besides the duo, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Muhammad Qaiyyum Ramlan and the Investigation Officer from the Johor Bahru South Police Headquarters’ Traffic Investigation Department, Assistant Superintendent Mohd Yusof Mohd Ali.

The media reported yesterday that the AGC would be filing an appeal on the verdict by the Johor Bahru Magistrate Court and bring the case to the High Court either on Monday or Tuesday.

Two days ago, the Johor Bahru Magistrate Court had dismissed and acquitted Sam Ke Ting, 26, from her charges of dangerous driving thus causing the death of eight teenagers at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam on 18 February 2017, 3.20 am.

Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali delivered the verdict after finding that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt on Ke Ting, thus, ordered the accused to be dismissed and acquitted from the charges, at the same time, her suspended driving license returned to her immediately. The court found that the accused’s testimony of not knowing about the joyride activities at the area was reasonable.

Siti Hajar said, Ke Ting’s statement of her driving on the left lane at the location of accident at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam also coincided with the findings from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), at 44.5 km or 75.8 km per hour.

On 18 February, the High Court ordered the accused to enter defence, after the prosecution managed to establish a prima facie on the case and set aside the Magistrate Court’s order on 28 October 2019, which dismissed and acquitted her during the final prosecution trial.

Ke Ting, who was then 22 years-old rammed into joyriders, 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, causing their death.

The accused was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides the maximum jail sentence of 10 years, fine and suspension of driving license upon conviction. -MalaysiaGazette

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