Airline steward claims trial over fatal drink-driving crash

KUALA LUMPUR: An airline employee, Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin, has pleaded not guilty to two drink-driving charges in a magistrate's court. He faces accusations of causing the death of a supervisor and injuring a maintenance worker in a crash on October 24. The 26-year-old was driving a Ford Focus Sport with a blood alcohol content of 64mg per 100ml, exceeding the legal limit.

The incident occurred at 4.09am while the vehicle was traveling on the Sultan Iskandar Highway towards Jalan Parlimen. The charges under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 can result in a prison term ranging from 10 to 15 years, a fine of RM50,000 to RM100,000, and a minimum 10-year suspension of Sabirin's driving license.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry sought RM50,000 bail and a suspension of Sabirin's license. However, his lawyer, Mohd Anif Rafih, requested a lower bail of RM30,000, arguing that his client would not object to having his driving license suspended. Rafih suggested that Sabirin report to a police station monthly as an alternative to surrendering his passport, as he works as an airline employee.

The court granted bail of RM35,000 with one surety, suspended Sabirin's driving license, and ordered him to report to a police station monthly. The case is set for mention on November 30. On the day of the incident, the City Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa, stated that a man was killed when a drunk driver collided with his car while he was working near warning signs installation on the highway. Another worker sustained head and hand injuries.