A 40-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded not guilty to causing the deaths of a couple in a Mercedes-Benz crash in Bentong last week, with the prosecution seeking RM10,000 bail
Lee Kang Foong, 40, is accused of driving a Mercedes-Benz in a manner deemed dangerous to the public, leading to the deaths of Karmilawati Muhamad Ya'akob and Mohammad Nazri Md Salleh, both aged 51, at KM3 Jalan Bentong-Gombak at 8.15pm on 10 December.
He faces prosecution under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, as well as a fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM50,000 if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rabiatul Adawiah Abdul Wahab proposed bail of RM10,000. However, defence lawyer Young Hiang Siong requested a reduction, citing Lee’s various health issues and his role as a caregiver for his parents.
The tragic accident involved three vehicles.
Reports indicated that the couple were travelling to deliver their son to the Bentong military camp when their Proton Saga collided with the Mercedes-Benz, which allegedly entered the opposite lane, before also hitting a Honda Civic.
Their son, Lance Corporal Naim Zuhair Mohamed Nazri, 23, who was driving the Proton Saga, sustained serious head injuries and is receiving treatment at Temerloh Hospital.
The couple’s cousin, Irman Kasim, 40, recalled learning of the crash through a phone call, stating he had not been aware of their exact plans in Pahang.
“The last time I saw them was during last year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I understood they were going to Bentong because their son was reporting for military service,” he said.
Initial investigations suggest the Mercedes-Benz lost control while navigating a bend, entering the opposite lane and colliding with the Proton Saga before striking the Honda Civic.
The driver of the Mercedes, Lee Kang Foong, and the driver of the Honda Civic, Azrul Syahril Mohd Nawawi, 48, were uninjured.
The bodies of Karmilawati and Mohammad Nazri were taken to the Forensic Unit of Bentong Hospital for post-mortem examination before being interred at Tanah Perkuburan Islam Labu in Negeri Sembilan.
Deputy Chief of Pahang Police, Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob, confirmed that the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and that Lee was taken into custody for further investigation.
“Police are also tracking down eyewitnesses and reviewing dashcam footage that may have captured the incident,” he added. - December 15, 2025
