Police officer charged with dangerous driving causing death of schoolboy

A POLICE corporal has been charged in the Gurun Magistrates’ Court with dangerous driving resulting in the death of a 16-year-old student following a traffic collision in Guar Chempedak last week.

The accused, Corporal Azhar Mat Saini, 52, attached to the Yan District Police Headquarters, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read before Magistrate Anis Suraya Ahmad on Wednesday.

According to the charge, Azhar was alleged to have driven a car dangerously at around 9pm on 28 July near the traffic lights at Bank Rakyat, Pekan Guar Chempedak. His manner of driving was said to be hazardous to the public, taking into account road type, traffic conditions, and safety considerations.

The collision resulted in the death of Muhammad Nur Iman Danial Mohd Roshidi, a Form Four student who was riding a motorcycle at the time of the incident.

The offence is framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a penalty of five to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000 upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Nurhazirah Tuan Yahya proposed bail be set at RM13,000. However, defence counsel S Parameswaran appealed for a reduction, citing the accused’s family responsibilities.

“My client has four school-going children aged between 11 and 18. His youngest child is physically disabled, and his wife is a schoolteacher,” said the lawyer.

The court allowed bail at RM6,000 with one surety and ordered that the accused’s driving licence be suspended pending the outcome of the case.

The case is scheduled for mention and document submission on 29 September.

The accused posted bail on the same day.

The fatal incident occurred on the night of 28 July, when the victim’s motorcycle was struck by a car allegedly driven by the accused. The student, from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Guar Chempedak, sustained serious injuries and was treated in the intensive care unit of Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar for three days before succumbing to his injuries on Thursday night. - August 6, 2025