Female Teacher Claims Trial Over Negligent Driving In Fatal Tanjong Mas School Incident

KOTA BHARU, Oct 13 – A 57-year-old female teacher pleaded not guilty in the Kota Bharu Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to charges of causing the death of a student and injuring another through negligent driving on school grounds.

The accused, Sakinah Ismail, entered her plea of not guilty after the charges were formally read before Magistrate Wan Mohd I’zzat Wan Abdullah.

The incident occurred in front of the surau at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tanjong Mas at approximately 1:40 PM on April 12, 2025.

Penal Code Charges, Court Proceedings, and Case Background

The court heard particulars regarding the charges, bail terms, and preliminary police findings:

• Fatal Negligence Charge: Under the first charge, Sakinah is accused of causing the death of a Form One female student through a negligent act, framed under Section 304A of the Penal Code. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
• Endangerment Charge: Under the second charge, framed under Section 336 of the Penal Code, she is accused of endangering the life of a second Form One female student by striking her with a Honda HR-V. The offense provides for up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM500, or both.
• Bail Granted & Case Mention: Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Nadzir Abdullah requested bail at RM3,000, while defense counsel Muhammad Hasif Hasan and Wan Fadhil Fayyadh Wan Mohd Zuhairi requested a minimal amount citing their client’s clean record. The court allowed bail at RM2,000 with one surety for both charges and scheduled December 6, 2026, for case mention and document submission.
• Incident Details: On April 12, 2025, one Form One student died at the scene from severe head injuries, while a second student sustained serious injuries after being hit by the vehicle. Preliminary police investigations indicated that the driver accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to veer off and strike both students.

The accused remains out on bail pending the scheduled mention date in December.

–NMT