No evidence lorry driver swerved to dodge vehicle, say Perak police
TELUK INTAN: No witnesses have verified claims that the driver involved in the fatal crash which killed nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers, swerved his lorry to avoid a vehicle at a junction.
Deputy Perak police chief Deputy Commissioner Zulkafli Sariaat said that, to date, no one has come forward to support the claim.
"The lorry driver was charged yesterday at 9am and there are nine separate charges against him. So far, no witnesses have come forward to substantiate the claim. If any do, the police will proceed with follow-up investigations and gather their statements for the trial," he told reporters in Teluk Intan.
The statement followed claims that a vehicle emerging from a junction caused the driver of the lorry, which was carrying stones, to lose control and swerve into the oncoming lane.
Zulkafli said police had recorded 16 statements so far, including from the lorry's owner.
Earlier, it was reported that at least 60 witnesses would be called up to assist in the investigation into the accident.
The lorry driver was charged on May 16 in the Sessions Court with nine counts of reckless or dangerous driving causing death.
Rudi Zulkarnian Mat Radi, 45, pleaded not guilty to all charges under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
The charges state that Rudi drove dangerously at KM15, Jalan Sungai Manik, in the Hilir Perak district, leading to the deaths of nine people around 9.05am on May 13.
The victims were S. Perumal, 44; Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46; Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41; Nurit AK Pandak, 34; Amiruddin Zabri, 38; Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38; Akmal Muhamad, 35; Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33; and Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28.
Reports suggest the lorry may have suffered a steering malfunction before crashing head-on into a police vehicle carrying 18 FRU personnel.
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