NG PLEADS NOT GUILTY
She stared blankly as charge was read to her, then turned to look at her family in the front row
“W
(I do not admit to the charge) — this was 19year-old Ng Pei Ven’s plea when she was charged at the magistrate’s court here yesterday under Section 44(1)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs to the extent of being incapable of controlling her vehicle and causing the death of Mohamad Fandi Rosli, 26.
She allegedly committed the offence at Km134 of the NorthSouth Expressway (NSE) at 7.50am on March 14.
If convicted, she could be jailed between three and 10 years, fined between RM8,000 and RM20,000, and have her driving licence suspended for five years.
Ng stared blankly ahead as the court interpreter read out and explained the charge to her in Mandarin. She then turned to look at her family members seated in the front row of the public gallery before turning to Magistrate Jamaliah Abd Manap again.
The court interpreter asked her if she understood the charge.
Ng replied in Mandarin: “Wo bu ren zui.” (I do not admit to the charge.)
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 with two sureties, and fix a mention date pending chemistry and post-mortem reports.
Ng’s lawyer, Parmjit Singh Mahinder, urged the court to lower the bail, citing his client’s age and disability.
Jamaliah set bail at RM7,000 with two sureties and fixed May 12 for mention.
Ng, who was in a hooded blue shirt and cream jeans, arrived in court about 8am accompanied by family. She had a sling on her right arm due to an injury she sustained during the accident.
She was silent throughout the hearing and closed her eyes several times.
When a court police officer told her to sit properly and not cross her legs, Ng stood up, thinking her case had been called. She then sat down again when the court police signalled her to do so.
During the accident, Ng, who was accused of being drunk and high on amphetamines, drove her car at high speed against the flow of traffic along the NSE after the Sungai Dua toll on mainland Butterworth and triggered a multivehicle collision.
Her Proton Gen 2 struck a Perodua Kelisa driven by Fandi, which led to a chain of collisions. Fandi died at the scene.
Ng and the drivers of four other vehicles sustained minor injuries.
Last week, Ng claimed trial at the magistrate’s court to the charge of administering drugs into her body. She is on bail after pleading not guilty to the offence.
The incident has gone viral, prompting calls for her to be charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.