KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — The driver of a BYD car involved in a crash that killed a five-year-old girl on Jalan Kuching last Saturday was charged today with three offences, including dangerous driving causing the child's death.
Bank officer Raeven Goh Wey Haur, 24, pleaded not guilty to all three charges after they were read out before Magistrate Aliaa Anwar.
The first charge alleges that he drove a BYD Seal in a manner dangerous to the public, resulting in the death of five-year-old Asiah Ahmad Syahir.
The charge was brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides for imprisonment of between five and 10 years and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000 upon conviction.
The accused may also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least 10 years from the date of conviction.
Under the second charge, Goh is alleged to have driven the same vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, taking into account the prevailing traffic conditions.
The charge was brought under Section 42(1) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum jail term of five years, a fine of not less than RM15,000 and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least five years upon conviction.
For the third charge, he is accused of failing to stop his vehicle after being involved in a road accident, an offence under Section 52(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum fine of RM2,000 or imprisonment for up to six months upon conviction.
All three offences were allegedly committed along Jalan Kuching, while travelling from the city centre towards Jalan Segambut, at 3.44 pm on October 10.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry proposed bail of RM50,000 with one surety for all three charges, citing the seriousness of the offences.
“The prosecution also seeks additional conditions requiring the accused to surrender his passport to the court and have his driving licence suspended from today until the case is concluded,” he said.
The accused's lawyer, Khailash Sharma, urged the court to set a lower bail amount, arguing that his client's family had cooperated with police following the incident.
“The proposed surety is the accused's father, a 55-year-old businessman. Within 24 hours of the incident, as early as 8 pm, the family had cooperated with police by lodging a report. We seek bail on terms that are not punitive,” he said.
The court granted Goh bail of RM36,000 with one surety for all three charges, subject to the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution. The case was fixed for mention on November 19.
The victim's family members were also present in court today, accompanied by watching brief lawyer Nur A’minahtul Mardiah Md Nor.
Earlier media reports said the girl, who was travelling in a Perodua Bezza, sustained severe head injuries in the six-vehicle collision and was pronounced dead at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
According to police investigations, the crash is believed to have occurred when the BYD Seal, allegedly driven by Goh, rear-ended the Perodua Bezza carrying the victim, which was moving slowly in traffic from the city centre towards Segambut.
The collision also involved a motorcycle, causing the Bezza to spin into the right lane and collide with three other vehicles — a Nissan Almera, a Toyota Alphard and a Perodua Myvi.
The Bezza driver, who is the victim's father, and the motorcyclist were also injured in the crash.
