Nissan Navara driver jailed 30 days, fined RM12,000 for reckless driving that seriously injured bikers on Duta Toll Plaza
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 – A man was reportedly sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined RM12,000 by the Magistrates' Court here today after pleading guilty to reckless driving that seriously injured two motorcyclists on the PLUS Highway.
Free Malaysia Today reported that K Darmaraju, 32, admitted to driving recklessly under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a penalty of up to five years' jail and a fine between RM5,000 and RM15,000.
'He has promised not to repeat this mistake,' his lawyer S Vinesh was quoted telling the court, adding that his client regretted the incident and had apologised to the victims.
Vinesh pleaded for leniency, citing Darmaraju's RM2,500 monthly income as a salesman, his recent marriage, and his financial responsibility for his elderly parents.
The crash took place around 2.30pm on May 10 before the city-bound Jalan Duta toll plaza when Darmaraju's vehicle hit a motorcycle carrying a middle-aged couple from behind.
The victims, who were riding in the left lane, suffered serious injuries including bone fractures; the pillion rider sustained head trauma, a broken ankle, and a fractured rib.
Darmaraju fled the scene after the collision and was arrested on May 11.
Magistrate Khairunnisak Hassni ordered the 30-day sentence to begin from the date of arrest, and ruled that Darmaraju would serve six months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
In addition to the prison sentence and fine, the court disqualified Darmaraju from holding a driving licence for five years.
The lawyer also informed the court that Darmaraju's father was scheduled for an upcoming eye surgery, further highlighting the family's dependence on him.
The prosecution did not oppose the defence's plea but stressed the severity of the injuries and the accused's failure to stop after the incident.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
38 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
E-hailing driver gets 5 years' jail, whipping for gold shop robbery
The court ordered for the sentence to run from the date of Melvin Yen's arrest on May 22. (Reuters pic) PETALING JAYA : An e-hailing driver was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and one stroke of the rotan by the Melaka sessions court today after pleading guilty to robbing a gold shop and injuring the owner's wife last week. Kosmo reported that judge Haderiah Siri imposed the sentence on Melvin Yen, 29, who entered his plea immediately after the charge was read by the court interpreter. According to the charge, Yen robbed and intentionally injured Koh Kim Lye, 70, at Tai Kwong Gold Shop at Jalan Jawa, Kampung Jawa in Melaka Tengah at 11am on May 22. Yen was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code with voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine or whipping, upon conviction. It is understood that Yen was driven to robbery as he wanted to help pay off his girlfriend's debts to loan sharks, which exceeded RM200,000. Lawyer Kent Tan, representing Yen, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying his client was supporting his parents who suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes. The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Ehsan Nasarudin, who requested an appropriate sentence, taking into consideration the losses suffered by the victim. The court ordered the sentence to run from the date of Yen's arrest on May 22.
Free Malaysia Today
41 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Calls for legal reforms after fatal student bus crash
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it may be time to evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement measures. PETALING JAYA : Calls have arisen for reforms to Malaysia's legal framework following the accident between an MPV and a bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students which claimed 15 lives yesterday. Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it might be time to evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement measures, and for the government to consider whether amendments to the Penal Code are necessary. She also said the government must consider whether a new law, similar to the UK's Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, should be introduced. 'This legislation allows a company to be prosecuted for serious failings in the way it manages the safety of its workers or the public, where negligence results in death,' she said in a Facebook post. She said the UK Act was introduced in response to a number of workplace fatalities where no corporate entity could be held criminally liable under existing laws, particularly in cases involving transport service providers where human lives are at stake and cannot be replaced. Yesterday, the firm that operated the bus involved said the driver had a good track record. Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd also said the bus, which was serviced last month, had no issues and was always sent for servicing on schedule. Separately, the Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) called for the formulation of a national road safety action plan based on the 'safe system' implemented in countries like Australia. It said Australia had succeeded in significantly reducing its road fatality rates through this approach, which focusses on building a system designed to protect users, even when human error occurs. 'Its core principle is that the responsibility for safety does not lie with road users alone, but is shared among all parties, including road planners, engineers, vehicle manufacturers, and enforcement authorities,' Gerak said in a statement. It added that the safe system approach was founded on four main pillars, the first being the construction of roads that can 'forgive' driver errors, such as by installing road barriers and designing safer intersections. It said the second pillar involves ensuring speed limits that are appropriate for the road conditions, environment, and types of road users. The third pillar involves encouraging the use of vehicles with modern safety features and ensuring that commercial vehicles are maintained to the highest standards, while the fourth pillar focusses on continuous education and enforcement to cultivate prudent driving behaviour.
Free Malaysia Today
41 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
20 students survive morning bus crash on East Coast Expressway
Maran police chief Wong Kim Wai said early investigations determined that the bus driver's carelessness and inability to control his vehicle were to blame for the collision. PETALING JAYA : An express bus carrying 28 passengers including 20 students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) rammed into the back of a trailer on KM161.6 on the East Coast Expressway early this morning. The bus was on its way from the Southern Integrated Transport Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to the Kuantan Sentral Terminal when the 1am incident occurred. Maran police chief Wong Kim Wai said the bus, driven by a 38-year-old man, hit the back of the trailer on the left lane. 'The trailer was moving straight on the left lane when it was hit from behind by the bus. 'No injuries were reported among the victims, including the drivers of both vehicles and the lorry attendant. 'All the passengers were moved to another bus and continued their trip to Kuantan,' Kosmo reported him as saying. Wong said early investigations determined that the bus driver's carelessness and inability to control his vehicle were to blame for the collision. He said the investigation is ongoing under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for careless and inconsiderate driving. This morning's bus crash came a day after 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris were killed in another collision involving a bus and an MPV along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding. UMPSA student council head Haykal Halid said the students on the bus reached the university's mosque at 3.56am.
