SEREMBAN: A 26-year-old lorry attendant claimed trial at the Magistrate’s Court here to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in the death of an on-duty policeman.
K. Kelvin Raj pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Nurul Farha Sulaiman on Friday (Aug 22).
He was charged with having excessive levels of alcohol in his body while driving.
This resulted in an accident along Jalan Temiang near here at 1.25am on Monday (Aug 18) that claimed the life of 23-year-old Naim Mullah Mohd Affandi, who was on his motorcycle when the accused’s car allegedly struck him.
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The victim was attached to the Jalan Campbell station.
Kelvin Raj was charged under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death or injury while driving under the influence.
It carries a jail term of between 10 and 15 years and a fine of between RM50,000 and RM100,000 upon conviction.
The offender can also be barred from holding a driving licence for a minimum of 10 years.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Shafatihah Nor Azmi told the court the prosecution was seeking bail of RM60,000 with one surety as the accused was facing a serious charge.
She said he was also a flight risk and asked that his licence be suspended.
Kelvin Raj’s lawyer A. Krishnaveni said the proposed amount was excessive and there was no reason for her client to jump bail.
“He comes from a poor family… where will he go?
“He had another case at the Sessions Court previously and had always attended proceedings,” she said.
Krishnaveni said bail would be posted by the accused’s mother, a single parent who has to provide for four other children.
Magistrate Nurul Farha then set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Oct 16 for mention.
She also ordered Kelvin Raj’s driving licence to be suspended until the disposal of the case.
