TWO motorists charged with reckless driving that resulted in the death of three family members on the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke)  three years ago were found guilty of the offence and sentenced to three years’ jail and fined RM10,000 each by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court today.

Magistrate Zilfinaz Abbas handed down the sentence on restaurant supervisor Siti Noor Aini Mohd Said, 39, and self-employed man Mohammad Fizal Reza Jamauddin, 34, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

Zilfinaz said the testimony of both accused in their defence was not consistent and merely a denial.

Both the accused are ordered to be imprisoned for two years if they failed to pay the fine, and they also lost the privilege of holding a driving licence for five years.

The court, however, allowed a stay of the sentence pending their appeal at the High Court, and increased their bail from RM9,000 to RM14,000 each and for them to also report themselves at the nearest police station once a month pending disposal of the case. 

On May 8, 2015, Fizal Reza and Siti Noor Aini pleaded not guilty to the charge of reckless driving at Km6 of Duke while driving their Myvi cars towards Jalan Duta from Ulu Klang, between 12.31am and 12.35am on May 2, 2015.

Their reckless driving resulted in a crash with a vehicle which Fairuz Nizam Husain, 35, his wife Nova Safitri Azhari, 27, and their 6-month old baby Nur Firuza Annisa were in.

They were charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides an imprisonment for up to 10 years and fine of up to RM20,000, upon conviction. – Bernama, February 21, 2018.