LORRY DRIVER CHARGED WITH CAUSING DEATH OF NINE FRU PERSONNEL

TELUK INTAN, May 16 (Bernama) -The driver of a stone-laden lorry pleaded not guilty at the Magistrates' Court here today on nine counts of causing the death of nine members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) in an accident on Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam on Tuesday.

Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, made the plea after the charges were read separately before judge Norhamizah Shaiffuddin.

According to the charges, at 9.05 am on May 13 at KM15 Jalan Sungai Manik, the man as the lorry driver, was charged with dangerous driving in public, causing the death of nine FRU members: Sergeant S Perumal, 44; Sergeant Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46; Corporal Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41; Corporal Nurit Ak Pandak, 34.

The accused was also charged with the same charge that led to the death of Corporal Amiruddin Zabri, 38, Corporal Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38, Corporal Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35, Lance Corporal Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33 and Constable Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28.

The driver has been accused of committing an offence under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of RM20,000.

The accused can also be disqualified from holding and obtaining a driver's license for not less than five years from the date of conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan then asked for bail for the accused at RM10,000 for each charge, to have his driving license suspended until the end of the case, and to report to a nearby police station every week.

National Legal Aid Foundation counsel, Francis Sinappan, who is representing the accused, then sought a minimum bail as the accused, who is still single, was only earning RM2,500 a month and is suffering from asthma.

The judge then allowed the accused bail of RM6,000 for all charges and complied with the conditions set by the deputy public prosecutor.

The court also set June 17 as the date for re-mention of the case.

--BERNAMA