By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 31: Director of Sabah State Courts, Marutin Pagan, 56, was killed in a road accident at the Kanowit-Durin roundabout in Sibu on March 30.
According to Bernama, Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili confirmed the news and said that the victim died in the accident, which occurred around 1.59pm. The collision involved a Toyota Fortuner, in which he was travelling in, and a Proton X70.
“Investigations at the scene revealed that the Toyota Fortuner was travelling from Kanowit Town to Sibu when it was struck by a Proton X70 at the Kanowit-Durin Roundabout,” he said.
He said that the Toyota Fortuner, which was driven by a 28-year-old woman, overturned upon impact, causing Marutin to be thrown out of the vehicle where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 42-year-old driver of the X70, along with the Toyota Fortuner driver and four other passengers, were injured in the accident and taken to Kanowit Hospital.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Meanwhile, the victim’s sister, Maria Pagan, shared on Facebook that Marutin was travelling from Machan in Kanowit to Sibu when the accident occurred.
At the same time, the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak expressed sadness at Marutin’s passing.
“His unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions throughout his service in the Malaysian Judiciary will always be remembered with great respect.
Our prayers and thoughts are with his family in this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace,” it said in a Facebook post.
Before his appointment as the director of the Sabah State Court, Marutin had served as a Sessions Court Judge in Bintulu, Sibu, and Kuching. — DayakDaily
