SIBU (Dec 27): In a tragic case that has left a family devastated, a man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of causing the death of a 17-year-old motorcyclist while driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred in May 2020, and the accused, Tang Ka Leong, had previously been acquitted in 2022 but was ordered to stand trial again after a review.
Magistrate Oon Kork Chern found Tang guilty of causing death by reckless driving under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987. In addition to the prison sentence, Tang was fined RM20,000, and he will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for 10 years. His request for a stay of execution was denied.
The court ruled that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to prove three key points: Tang was driving along Persiaran Brooke, his alcohol level was significantly above the legal limit, and he drove recklessly, resulting in a head-on collision with the victim, Chipedo Lee Chi Zhen. CCTV footage showed that Tang had been driving against the traffic flow, directly causing the fatal accident.
The victim’s mother, Yong Siew Chen, shared the emotional toll the loss had on her family. Chipedo Lee had worked as a food delivery rider during the Movement Control Order (MCO), supporting his family and fiancée. His death not only shattered their lives but left his fiancée pregnant and without her partner, while their child will grow up never knowing their father.
Yong expressed her heartbreak over Tang’s lack of remorse for his actions. She described the pain of raising her late son’s daughter and the emotional burden the family now faces. Lee’s death, she said, had left them without hope for the future, overshadowing the wedding they had once planned.
The case highlights the dangers of drunk driving and the devastating impact it can have on innocent lives. After Tang was acquitted in 2022, the family appealed the decision, and in 2023, the High Court ordered a retrial, leading to today’s sentencing.
