KUCHING, May 6 — A 19-year-old man claimed trial at the Kuching Magistrate’s Court today to charges linked to a fatal hit-and-run incident that took place along Jalan Stutong last week, resulting in the death of a cyclist.
The accused entered a plea of not guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali after the charge was read out in court. He is charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving causing death, an offence that carries serious legal consequences if convicted.
In addition, the accused faces a separate charge under Section 52(2) of the same Act for failing to report the accident within 24 hours, as required by law. The prosecution outlined that the accused had allegedly driven in a reckless manner, leading to the fatal incident, and subsequently left the scene without lodging a police report.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa allowed bail at RM20,000 with two local sureties. The court also imposed a condition requiring the accused to report to the Simpang Tiga Police Station once a month while awaiting further proceedings.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Fillanny Siji, while the accused is represented by defence counsel Daniel Ling. The court fixed June 23 for case management.
The case stems from an incident on May 1, where the victim, Yeo Kheng Song, 56, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver involved had fled immediately after the collision, triggering public concern and a police investigation.
On Tuesday, the accused surrendered himself to the Kuching District Police Headquarters’ Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division. According to Kuching District Police Chief Alexson Naga Chabu, police subsequently detained and arrested the suspect under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had led police to both the scene of the incident and a workshop located at Mile 4, where the vehicle believed to be involved in the crash was kept for further examination.
The case has drawn attention to road safety concerns and the responsibilities of motorists following accidents. Authorities continue to urge all road users to act responsibly and comply with legal obligations to prevent such tragedies.
As the matter proceeds through the courts, the family of the victim and the public await the outcome, hoping that justice will be served in accordance with the law.
