‘ No action against run organisers’

> AG’s Chambers says no provision for offence in marathon crash case

KLANG: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has ordered no action be taken against the organisers of an unlicensed marathon race on Dec 10 that left marathon pacer Evelyn Ang ( pix) with serious injuries following a road accident.

Klang South police chief ACP Shamsul Amar Ramli said yesterday the investigation papers filed by police were marked NFA or “no further action” by the Chambers on Feb 12 on the order of Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.

He said the reason given by the Chambers for the decision was that the probe under Section 36 (1) of the Sports Development Act does not allocate penal action for an offence, as such there does not exist an offence that is chargeable in court.

Following the accident, an assistant commissioner from the Sport’s Commissioner’s Office lodged a police report on the organisers of the Klang City International Marathon.

Investigations showed that the organiser, Earth Runners International, neither had a permit for the race nor did it apply for one with the Sport’s Commissioner’s Office.

Apart from Ang, 44, two other participants, Amiruddin Hamid, 37, from Jenjarom and Ahmad Hadafi Jus, 42, of Seri Kembangan suffered light injuries.

They were in the midst of the race when a car ploughed into them.

Ang remains in a coma and is fighting for her life. Her family had announced last week they intended to take her off life support but have since changed their minds.

On Feb 20, 27-year-old mechanic Teoh Thiam Lim, who was driving the car that allegedly hit the runners was charged with reckless and dangerous driving. He pleaded not guilty. The case led to a series of revelations on marathon races including how many are held illegitimately and how lucrative the business is.