A LORRY driver was brought before the Teluk Intan Magistrate's Court on Friday, facing charges of reckless driving that resulted in the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel last Tuesday.
The accused, Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, 45, from Kampung Kota, Hilir Perak, pleaded not guilty to the nine charges read out to him before Sessions Court Judge Norhamizah Shaiffudin.
For the first charge, the defendant, as the driver of a Hino lorry, was accused of driving recklessly, leading to the death of S Perumal, 44, on 13 May 2025, at around 9:05 a.m. on Kilometer 15 of Jalan Sungai Manik in the Hilir Perak district.
The second to ninth charges involved the same reckless driving accusation, which resulted in the deaths of Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46; Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41; Nurit Pandak, 34; Amiruddin Zabri, 38; Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38; Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35; Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33; and Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28, at the same location, time, and date.
The charges were brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which carries a penalty of imprisonment from five to ten years, a fine of up to RM50,000, and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driver's license for at least five years if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan offered a bail of RM10,000 for each charge with additional conditions, including the suspension of the defendant’s driver's license until the case is concluded and the requirement to report to the police station every week.
The accused, who is unmarried, was represented by Francais Sinnappan from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), who requested a minimum bail amount due to the defendant’s monthly income of less than RM2,000 and his asthma condition.
The court set a total bail of RM6,000 for all charges and granted the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution.
The case will be heard again on 17 June for further proceedings and lawyer appointments.
Earlier media reports revealed that the accident occurred when a lorry carrying sand collided with a truck transporting 18 FRU members from Unit 5, based in Sungai Senam, Ipoh, which had veered into the opposite lane.
The collision resulted in eight FRU members dying at the scene, and one more passed away at the Teluk Intan Hospital. Nine others sustained injuries, some of which were severe.
At the time of the incident, the vehicles were returning to Ipoh after completing their duties during the Chitra Pournami celebration in Teluk Intan. - May 16, 2025
