A FORMER salon worker was sentenced to three years’ jail and fined RM10,000, in default a year in prison, by a magistrate’s court in Bukit Mertajam, for reckless driving that resulted in the death of his friend three years ago.

Sessions Court judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin, who presided as magistrate, handed down the sentence after M. Vaitheswaran, 24, failed to prove his case beyond any reasonable doubt.

Fariz also ordered Vaitheswaran’s driving licence to be suspended for five years.

In sentencing, Fariz said although it was a road accident, the accused had driven his car in a dangerous manner, which resulted in a death and, therefore, he should be punished accordingly.

“In this case, the court must also take into consideration public interest,” he said.

Earlier, in mitigation, the accused’s counsel, K. Paramanathan, said Vaitheswaran had lost his job and had his driving licence suspended after being charged three years ago.

“After the incident, Vaitheswaran was traumatised and I wish to appeal for a lighter sentence,” he said.

State director of prosecution Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim and deputy public prosecutor Mohammad Nazri Abdul Rahim, however, urged for a heavier penalty as a lesson and to prevent a repeat of the offence.

Vaitheswaran was charged under section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, for reckless driving, which resulted in the death of Moey Yun Peng, after his sports utility vehicle (SUV) plunged off the Penang Bridge on January 20, 2019.

In the 2.54am incident, Vaitheswaran, who was driving a Toyota Vios car, collided with the SUV driven by Moey on the bridge, causing the latter to lose control of his vehicle and plunging into the sea at Km4 on the bridge (Prai bound). – Bernama, January 27, 2022.