Man charged with running down marathoners
KLANG: A mechanic was brought to the magistrate’s court yesterday on charges of reckless driving and speeding, in an incident that caused harm to Klang City International Marathon runners last year.
The accused, Teoh Thiam Lim, 28, pleaded not guilty to the charges before magistrate Roslizi Sulaiman.
Based on the charge, he was driving his Proton Iswara recklessly in Batu 2, Jalan Kapar, here, at 4.30am on Dec 10 last year.
He was charged under Section 42 (1) Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a prison sentence of not more than five years and a maximum fine of RM15,000, if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Amira Aziz asked for bail to be set at RM8,000, which was reduced to RM5,500 with a surety.
The next hearing was set for March 9.
It was reported that one runner was seriously hurt and two others were injured when they were hit from behind.
The victims were Evelyn Ang Gek Suan, 44, Amiruddin Hamid, 37, and Ahmad Hadafi Jus, 42.
They were taken to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang by ambulance.
Ang sustained severe injuries to the head and jaw, Amiruddin had injuries to the head and Ahmad Hadafi’s leg was injured.
Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman said the event organisers would face legal action under the Sports Development Act 1997.
The commission said sports events must have permission from the body to be carried out, as stated under Section 36 of the Sports Development Act 1997, in addition to getting the green light from the police, local authorities and other relevant parties.
The marathon was carried out without the approval of the Sports Commissioner’s Office, the governing body for sports events in the country.
There was also no application from the organisers to host the event.
It is believed that Ang is in a coma and receiving treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital.