Driver in Penang Bridge crash claims trial
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A former hairstylist was charged at the magistrate’s court here yesterday with reckless driving and causing the death of a motorist on the Penang Bridge last month.
M.K. Vaitheswaran, 21, shook his head to indicate that he was not guilty when asked by magistrate Jamaliah Abd Manap to state his plea.
The charge was read to him twice, once in Malay and once in Tamil, before he claimed trial.
Vaitheswaran, wearing a black T-shirt and dark grey jeans, was charged with committing the offence at Km4 of the Penang Bridge (mainland-bound) at 3am on Jan 20.
He was charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. He will also lose his driving licence for a maximum of three years.
He was expressionless throughout the proceeding.
Deputy public prosecutor Yusaini Amir Abdul Karim asked the court to set bail at RM10,000, saying that the amount was appropriate for the offence.
Lawyer S. Parameswaran urged for bail to be set at RM5,000, saying that it was merely to ensure the accused’s presence in court.
“My client has cooperated with the police throughout (the investigation). He had presented himself to police when needed, despite not being remanded.
“Also, he used to earn a little more than RM1,000 before this, while his father, an electrician, earns about RM2,500. His mother is a housewife,” he said, in justifying the lower bail request.
Jamaliah set bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed March 18 for mention.
She ordered Vaitheswaran’s driving licence to be suspended until the end of the case.
“He is also required to report to the police once a month,” she added.
Vaitheswaran, who was driving a Toyota Vios, was involved in a crash with a Mazda CX-5 sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by 20year-old student Moey Yun Peng on the Penang Bridge.
The SUV plunged into the sea from the impact of the collision with Vaitheswaran’s car.
Moey’s body was strapped to the driver’s seat after the vehicle was retrieved from the sea on the third day of a search-and-rescue operation.