A tour bus driver, S. Anand Kumar, appeared in the Magistrate's Court today (July 3), pleading not guilty to charges of driving without a valid license and driving in a reckless manner, which led to the deaths of two Chinese nationals on Jalan Genting Highlands, Bentong, on June 29.
S. Anand Kumar, 32, hailing from Klang, Selangor, stood before Magistrate Siti Aisyah Ahmad. The first charge accuses him of dangerous driving, resulting in the deaths of Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Suhong, 49. This tragic incident occurred at KM 16.5 Jalan Genting Highlands (downhill) at around 10.20 am on June 29. This charge, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, carries severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of RM50,000 if convicted.
In addition to this, Anand Kumar faces a second charge under Section 26(1) of the same act for operating the tour bus without a valid license on the same day and at the same time. The consequences of this charge, if proven guilty, include a fine of up to RM2,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
Despite being unrepresented in court, Anand Kumar insisted on his innocence. The court granted him bail set at RM8,000 with one surety and imposed a condition prohibiting him from applying for a driving license until the case is resolved. The court has scheduled the next mention of the case for August 7.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Zamharir Muhammad Zuhid. The unfortunate incident on June 29 resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals and left 19 other passengers injured. The tour bus they were traveling in overturned at KM 16.5 Jalan Turun Genting Highlands, raising serious concerns about road safety and the adherence to traffic regulations by commercial vehicle operators.
This case highlights the critical importance of ensuring that drivers of public transportation are properly licensed and adhere to all safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future. The ongoing legal proceedings will seek to establish the facts and ensure justice is served for the victims and their families.
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