2 companies charged over student’s death

SEREMBAN: Two companies were charged with negligence in the Sessions Court here yesterday in connection with the death of a student of SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Gemas.

She was killed by a flying blade from a lawn tractor in the school compound in February.

Two students were also injured in the incident.

Companies’ directors — Mohd Yusof Ismail, of MI Yusof Enterprise, and Hishamudin Rais, of Hisham Rais (M) Sdn Bhd — pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read out separately before judge Maimoonah Aid.

MI Yusof Enterprise was charged with failing to provide a safe work procedure on the use of the Kubota lawn tractor, resulting in the death of Nur Afini Roslan, 14, and causing injuries to Abdullah Hazlan, 14, and Mohd Farhan Reza Badrol Hesam, 13, at the school’s field at 10.20am on Feb 13.

Hisham Rais (M) Sdn Bhd was charged with failing to supervise the use of the lawn tractor, which resulted in the death and injury to the three students at the school at the same place, time and date.

The charges against the two companies were under Section 17(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, which provides a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both, if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor from the state Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Intan Noorashikin Nasaruddin, prosecuted. The court set March 20 next year for mention.