10 hours ago
Court sends teen to Henry Gurney School after fatal road crash
KUCHING: An unlicensed 15-year-old who caused a fatal road crash in January has been sentenced to six years at the Henry Gurney School for reckless driving.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed down the maximum sentence today after reviewing a probation report from the Welfare Department.
The teen was also fined RM1,500 for a separate offence of underage driving.
The teen had pleaded guilty on May 14 in the Magistrates Court under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.
The charge carries a jail term of five to 10 years or a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000.
He also admitted to a second charge under Section 39(1) for driving underage, which is punishable by a fine up to RM2,000 or six months' jail.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Fadzri Azhan Zainudin pressed for a prison sentence, citing the boy's lack of remorse and the seriousness of the accident, which killed five and injured five others.
The Welfare Department instead argued for the court to send him to the reform school.
The Jan 14 crash occurred at 1.10pm near Kuching International Airport. Dashcam footage showed the teen's car crossing the divider on Jalan Teo Kui Seng and hitting two cars and two motorcycles.
Four victims died at the scene and a fifth succumbed at Sarawak General Hospital.
Two of the dead were 16-year-old friends of the driver. He was later arrested after being treated for a neck injury.
The teen was unrepresented throughout the trial.
