A 75-year-old driver accused of a fatal hit-and-run in Bandar Baru Klang, Selangor, which claimed the lives of two sisters, pleaded not guilty when he was brought before the Klang Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning (21 May).
The defendant, identified as Hong Jinlai (transliteration), was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Amendment 2021) for driving recklessly and causing the deaths of two victims. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM on 15 May near Kwang Hua Independent High School.
If convicted, Hong faces a prison sentence of between five and 10 years, alongside a fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM50,000.
Defence seeks lower bail, citing illness and guarantor’s financial constraints
The Deputy Public Prosecutor informed the court that the prosecution is still awaiting the chemical analysis and several other relevant investigation reports. Given the gravity of the case, the prosecution requested bail to be set at RM15,000.
However, the defence lawyer appealed for a lower bail amount, stating that his client is a retiree suffering from hypertension and diabetes who requires ongoing medical treatment. He added that the defendant’s bail guarantor would be his 43-year-old son-in-law, a restaurant employee earning approximately RM3,500 a month with limited financial means.
After hearing submissions from both parties, the Magistrate’s Court granted bail at RM10,000 with one surety. The court also ordered the temporary suspension of the defendant’s driving licence until the conclusion of the trial.
The victim’s family considers civil action
The family members of the deceased attended the proceedings alongside their appointed watching brief lawyer.
“This case does not only affect one or two people, but two entire families,” the lawyer said, adding that one of the injured victims remains in a serious condition and is still under medical observation at the hospital.
“The victim is still unwell; the family will decide on their next course of action later.”
When asked whether the family felt the statutory punishment was too lenient, the lawyer acknowledged that there may be room for improvement in the existing penalties.
“After all, this case involved the loss of two lives. From my personal perspective, the current punishment is not particularly severe, and we hope society will pay greater attention to cases like this,” he said.
He did not rule out pursuing civil legal action or seeking compensation from the defendant on behalf of the victims’ families, as reported by Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily. The court has fixed 4 August for the next case mention.
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Also read: Drunk Driver in Fatal Klang Crash Charged With Murder, Could Face Death Penalty
