Lorry driver acquitted over policeman's death in 2019 crash
KUALA LUMPUR: A lorry driver convicted of causing a policeman's death in a road accident seven years ago has been acquitted by the Alor Star High Court, which found serious defects in the charge sheet and flaws in the trial.
KUALA LUMPUR: A lorry driver convicted of causing a policeman's death in a 2019 road accident has been acquitted by the Alor Star High Court after serious defects were found in the charge sheet and flaws in the trial. Md Zaini Yusop, the driver, was initially sentenced to three years in jail, a RM5,500 fine, and a three-year driving ban for the crash that killed constable Khairul Izat Romli in September 2019.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Judge Dr Mohammad Johan Lee cited the defective charge sheet for failing to properly describe the alleged dangerous driving as one of the issues. He also found that the magistrate incorrectly dismissed Zaini's defence that his lorry's brakes failed due to pre-existing mechanical issues.
The prosecution's own expert confirmed the possibility of pre-existing mechanical brake failure, which directly corroborated Zaini's sworn evidence. The judge also noted that the magistrate prejudiced the trial by not recalling key prosecution witnesses and relying instead on video recordings and transcripts.
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