Immigration ‘Black Maria’ Driver Charged Over Fatal Jalan Sultan Ismail Crash Claiming Three Lives

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — An Immigration Department ‘Black Maria” lorry driver was hauled to the Magistrate’s Court today facing five criminal charges, including dangerous driving that resulted in the deaths of a father and his two daughters along Jalan Sultan Ismail early yesterday.

Mohd Akbar Zainol, 43, pleaded not guilty to all five charges read before Magistrate Aliaa Anwar.

The accused was slapped with three primary charges of driving an Isuzu ‘Black Maria’ lorry dangerously and causing the deaths of Shaik Mohd Firdaus Shaikh Yahya, 53, and his daughters, Siti Norshazlin, 24, and Siti Darwisyah Auni, 12. The crash occurred at the Jalan Sultan Ismail intersection around 1:00 am on Aug 19.

These charges were framed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a sentence of five to 10 years imprisonment, a fine ranging between RM20,000 and RM50,000, and mandatory disqualification from holding a driving licence for at least five years upon conviction.

For the fourth charge, Mohd Akbar was accused of driving without due care and attention, causing serious injuries to Shaik Mohd Firdaus’ wife, 55-year-old Nor Hayati Rozali, at the same location and time. The offence, under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, provides for a fine between RM5,000 and RM10,000 alongside a maximum 12-month jail sentence.

The fifth charge alleges that the accused failed to comply with traffic signals by running a red light at the intersection, framed under Section 79(2) of the same Act, which carries a fine of RM300 to RM2,000.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Syajaratudur Abd Rahman urged the court to set bail at RM15,000 with one surety for each charge, along with conditions requiring the accused to report to a local police station monthly and surrender his passport.

Defence counsel Izzat Amir Saharudin pleaded for a lower bail sum, noting that Mohd Akbar has served with the Immigration Department for 11 years, has no prior criminal record, and is the sole provider for his school-going child and elderly mother.

Magistrate Aliaa allowed bail at RM12,000 for each charge with one surety and ordered the accused to report to a police station monthly. The court also ordered the immediate suspension of his driving licence pending the outcome of the case and set Oct 27 for mention and submission of documents.

The fatal accident occurred when the empty departmental vehicle was travelling towards Chow Kit for an enforcement operation against illegal immigrants. The lorry allegedly entered the Maju Junction intersection against a red light with its beacons and sirens activated before colliding with a Proton Saga, causing the heavy vehicle to lose control and plow into the four pedestrians and another parked vehicle.

-NMT