By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, May 14: A 15-year-old teen has pleaded guilty to two charges related to a deadly crash in January that claimed five lives, while his father was fined RM15,000 or, in default, sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for allowing his underage son to drive without a valid licence.
The court has set June 17 for further mention of the case to allow for the preparation of a social report, as the accused is under 21. The father was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
The first amended charge on the 15-year-old states that on January 14, 2025, at around 1.10pm, the accused drove a Proton Saga recklessly, resulting in the deaths of five people. The offence falls under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a mandatory jail term of not less than five years and up to ten years, and a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000, upon conviction.
The second amended charge revealed that the accused, who was just 15 years and three months old at the time, had been driving the vehicle without a valid license, in violation of Section 39(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of up to RM2,000, up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.
As for the father, the court charged him under Section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for failing to provide reasonable supervision, allowing his underage son to drive. The offence carries a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, along with mandatory community service.
The case has drawn public attention due to the age of the driver and the severity of the accident, which involved two motorcycles and two other cars travelling in the opposite direction. Three men and a woman, aged between 16 and 45, were pronounced dead at the scene, while another 16-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries at Sarawak General Hospital. – DayakDaily
