GEORGE TOWN: A female Chinese national was charged at the magistrate's court here with drink driving and ramming the car into a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) staff last week.
The 24-year-old Liu Shasha was alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting in her being unable to control the car and ramming into a motorcyclist and causing his death at Jalan Datuk Keramat at about 6.25am last Friday.
She was charged under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The offence provides a jail term of between 3 and 10 years, and a fine of RM20,000, upon conviction.
She pleaded not guilty before magistrate Rosnee Mohd Radzuan when the charge read out to her in Mandarin.
Deputy public prosecutor Nabila Huda Muhammad Nazim prosecuted while counsel A Ashok represented the accused.
Rosnee denies bail and fixed Nov 8 for next mention pending the Immigration Department checking the authenticity of her passport.
Meanwhile, Garrett Lim Nian Siang, 23, was also charged with allowing his car to be driven by Liu. He was at the passenger seat when the incident took place.
He was charged with committing the offence under Section 26 of the Road Transport Act 1987 at the same time and place.
He pleaded guilty and was fined RM1,500.
In the Friday morning incident, the victim, 58-year-old MBPP staff Mohaidin Gani Mohamad, was at the traffic light junction at Jalan Datuk Keramat when a car rammed into his motorcycle and several other vehicles from behind.
Mohaidin died at the scene while the other motorists escaped unhurt.