THE company responsible for the tour bus involved in a crash that claimed two lives on Jalan Genting Highlands two months ago has been charged at the Bentong Magistrate’s Court. The charges include allowing a driver to operate the bus without a licence and using a bus with an expired permit, according to a report by Bernama.
M. Kumar Trans Tour Sdn Bhd, represented by its director, M. Kumar, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to both charges before Magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa Abu Bakar.
The report stated that the company was accused of permitting the driver, S. Anand Kumar, 32, to drive the bus without a licence and in a reckless manner, leading to the deaths of two passengers in the crash at KM16.5, Jalan Genting Highlands, at 10:20am on June 29.
Additionally, the company was charged with operating a tour bus with a permit that had expired on 16th February.
The charges, framed under Section 41(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715), carry a maximum fine of RM500,000, a jail term of two years, or both, if convicted.
The court has set September 27 for re-mention.
On July 3, Anand Kumar pleaded not guilty to charges of driving without a valid licence and in a dangerous manner, causing the deaths of two Chinese tourists, Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Suhong, 49.
Nineteen other passengers were rescued after the bus veered off the road, crashed into a divider, and overturned while en route to the capital city.
Bentong District Police Chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar reportedly said that the 32-year-old bus driver did not possess a driving licence and had 27 past traffic summonses for various offences.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook instructed the Land Public Transport Agency to take strict action against the tour bus company involved, citing the clear non-compliance with the law, which has tarnished the country's image by involving the deaths of foreign tourists. – August 19, 2024.
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