Pemandu lori ‘Black Maria’ imigresen didakwa sebabkan kematian 3 sekeluarga

A 43-year-old Indonesian Immigration Department driver, Akbar Zainol, appeared in a Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court today, pleading not guilty to five charges related to a fatal accident involving a 'Black Maria' lorry on Jalan Sultan Ismail. Zainol is accused of driving the immigration lorry recklessly, causing the deaths of Shaik Firdaus Shaik Yahya, 52; Siti Norshazlin Shaik Firdaus, 24; and Siti Darwisyah Shaik Firdaus, 12.

The incident occurred around 1 am on August 19th. Five charges were brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act, which could lead to a prison sentence between five to ten years and a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000 if found guilty. Zainol also faced charges under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act for driving carelessly, which could result in a fine between RM5,000 and RM10,000 and a prison term of up to 12 months if proven guilty.

Additionally, he faced charges under Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act for disobeying a red traffic light, with a fine of RM300 to RM2,000 if found guilty. The prosecution proposed a RM15,000 bail and requested Zainol to surrender his passport and report to the police station once a month. Zainol's lawyer, Izzat Amir Saharudin, sought a lower bail amount, citing his young son's service in the Immigration Department for 11 years, lack of criminal record, family responsibilities, and his elderly parents' welfare.

The lawyer argued that the additional orders sought by the prosecution were unnecessary, as his son would provide cooperation throughout the proceedings and be granted reasonable benefits. Magistrate Aliaa Anwar set a RM60,000 bail for all five charges and ordered Zainol to report to the police station each month. He also ordered Zainol to surrender his driving license until the case is concluded.