Senior citizen pleads not guilty to dangerous driving charge over fatal Petaling Jaya crash
KUALA LUMPUR: A 72-year-old man has claimed trial at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of a motorcyclist in a crash that occurred in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, earlier this year.
Fong Heng Leong pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Magistrate Nur Natasya Mohtarudin on Tuesday.
He is accused of driving a Proton X70 in a manner deemed dangerous to the public, resulting in the death of 22-year-old motorcyclist Azim Haikal Noor Aziddin.
The incident allegedly occurred along Jalan 17/21, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, at about 1.42pm on May 5.
The charge was brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides for a prison sentence of between five and 10 years upon conviction, in addition to a fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM50,000.
Following the plea, the court granted Fong bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
Magistrate Nur Natasya also ordered the suspension of the accused’s driving licence until the disposal of the case and fixed Sept 21 for case management.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sadiah Fasihah Che Yusoff, while Fong was represented by counsel Datuk Suraj Singh.
The case stems from a fatal road accident that drew public attention after an elderly driver allegedly lost control of the sport utility vehicle before it crossed into the opposite carriageway.
According to earlier police investigations, the grey Proton X70 is believed to have veered into the opposing lane before colliding with the motorcycle ridden by Azim Haikal.
Petaling Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shamsudin Mamat previously said the impact left the motorcyclist with severe injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The SUV driver was reported to have escaped the crash without sustaining any injuries.
The case will return to the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court on Sept 21 for further proceedings.
