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2023 MarsdenLR 1946

HIGH COURT MALAYA IPOH
MUHAMMAD EIZAT HAZMI – Appellant
Versus
PP – Respondent
[Criminal Appeal No: AA-41S-11-09/2022]

Petitioner Advocates:Kamal Baharin Nali ,Respondent Advocate: Geetha Jora Singh

The court established that dangerous driving must be assessed objectively, considering all circumstances, and reckless driving resulting in death is an offense under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Headnote:(A) Road Transport Act 1987 - Section 41(1) - Causing death by dangerous driving - Appellant found guilty for recklessly driving a truck, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals in a motorvan - Evidence included witness testimonies and accident reconstruction - Court upheld the conviction and sentence of four years imprisonment and a fine of RM12,000. (Paras 3, 53, 64)

(B) Legal principle - Dangerous driving assessed objectively based on circumstances, including road conditions and traffic - Reckless driving constitutes a significant factor. (Paras 35, 48)

Facts of the case:
On 28 October 2017, the Appellant's truck collided head-on with a motorvan, resulting in nine fatalities. The Appellant's driving behavior was deemed reckless, as he encroached into the opposite lane. (Paras 5, 53)

Findings of Court:
The Appellant's actions were found to be dangerous, leading to the tragic deaths, satisfying the elements of the offense under Section 41(1). (Paras 54, 65)

Issues: The main issues included the Appellant's recklessness, the credibility of witnesses, and the circumstances of the accident. (Paras 55, 64)

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the Appellant's driving was dangerous, leading to the deaths of the motorvan's occupants, and upheld the conviction based on substantial evidence. (Paras 53, 64)

Result: Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence affirmed.

Table of Content
1. charges and factual background of the accident. (Para 1 , 2 , 5)
2. court's findings and sentencing. (Para 3 , 4)
3. prosecution's case and evidence presented. (Para 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20)
4. defendant's arguments against conviction. (Para 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34)
5. legal principles regarding dangerous driving. (Para 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44)
6. court's evaluation of evidence and testimonies. (Para 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61)
7. final conclusion and affirmation of conviction. (Para 62 , 63 , 64 , 65)

Moses Susayan JC:

Introduction

[1] The Appellant/Accused was charged under the provisions of s 41(1) of the Road Transport Act of 1987 ( RTA ), owing to the tragic occurrence of an accident that resulted in the loss of nine lives. These charges were registered under (3) different case numbers and were tried together before a Magistrate. After an exhaustive trial involving 21 witnesses, which included after the defence being called, the learned Magistrate, having carefully considered the evidence, found the Appellant guilty of the alleged offense of causing death by driving dangerously and meted out the appropriate sentence.

[2] The charges against the Appellant are as follows:

Case No: AD83-171-09/2020 1st Charge:

Bahawa kamu, pada 28 Oktober 2017, jam lebih kurang 0645 hrs di KM 45 Jalan Ipoh-Teluk Intan, di dalam Daerah Batang Padang, dalam negeri Perak sebagai pemandu lori bernombor pendaftaran PMV 2144 didapati telah memandu kenderaan tersebut di atas jalan raya awam telah didapati kamu memandu secara merbahaya sehingga menyebabkan kematian kepada pemandu motorvan no ADK 6298, Lew San Jau KPT: 85070208-5223. Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987."

2nd Charge:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 28 Oktober 2017, jam lebih kurang 06.45 hrs di KM 45 Jalan Ipoh-Teluk Intan, di dalam Daerah Batang Padang, dalam negeri Perak sebagai pemandu lori bernombor pendaftaran PMV 2144 didapati telah memandu kenderaan tersebut di atas jalan raya awam telah didapati kamu memandu secara merbahaya sehingga menyebabkan kematian kepada penumpang motorvan no ADK 6298, Cheong Moi KPT: 35030708-5572. Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987."

3rd Charge:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 28 Oktober 2017, jam lebih kurang 06.45 hrs di KM 45 Jalan Ipoh-Teluk Intan, di dalam Daerah Batang Padang, dalam negeri Perak sebagai pemandu lori bernombor pendaftaran PMV 2144 didapati telah memandu kenderaan tersebut di atas jalan raya awam telah didapati kamu memandu secara merbahaya sehingga menyebabkan kematian kepada penumpang motorvan no ADK 6298, Wong Yok Yen KPT: 560108-08-5268. Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987."

Case No: AD83-172-09/2020

1st Charge:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 28 Oktober 2017, jam lebih kurang 06.45 hrs di KM 45 Jalan Ipoh-Teluk Intan, di dalam Daerah Batang Padang, dalam negeri Perak sebagai pemandu lori bernombor pendaftaran PMV 2144 didapati telah memandu kenderaan tersebut di atas jalan raya awam telah didapati kamu memandu secara merbahaya sehingga menyebabkan kematian kepada penumpang motorvan no ADK 6298, Cheong Kai Yean KPT: 620825-08-5270, Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum di bawah s 41(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987."

2nd Charge:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 28 Oktober 2017, jam lebih kurang 06.45 hrs di KM 45 Jalan Ipoh-Teluk Intan, di dalam Daerah Batang Padang, dalam negeri Perak sebagai pemandu lori bernombor pendaftaran PMV 2144 didapati telah memandu kenderaan tersebut di atas jalan raya awam telah didapati kamu memandu secara merbahaya sehingga menyebabkan kematian kepada penumpang motorvan no ADK 6298, Thong For Thye KPT: 651025-08-5354. Oleh itu, kamu telah melakukan satu kesalahan yang boleh dihukum

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2023 MarsdenLR 1946

HIGH COURT MALAYA IPOHMUHAMMAD EIZAT HAZMI – AppellantVersusPP – Respondent[Criminal Appeal No: AA-41S-11-09/2022]

The court established that dangerous driving must be assessed objectively, considering all circumstances, and reckless driving resulting in death is an offense under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Cases Referred (8)

HIGH COURT MALAYA IPOH
MUHAMMAD EIZAT HAZMI – Appellant
Versus
PP – Respondent
[Criminal Appeal No: AA-41S-11-09/2022]