KUALA LUMPUR: A drunk driver who rammed his vehicle into and killed a Foodpanda rider along the Sultan Iskandar Highway (Lebuhraya Mahameru) here, earlier today, has been charged at the Magistrate's Court.
Khor Yong Zhang, 21, is alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol, resulting in him being unable to control his Nissan Grand Livina and ramming Mohamed Zaili Mohamed.
Clad in a red shirt, the accused was calm and nodded in understanding when the charge was read to him before magistrate Puteri Nursheila Rahimi.
He pleaded not guilty to the offence.
According to the charge sheet, Khor was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, which caused the death of Zaili along the Sultan Iskandar Highway at about 1.30am this morning.
The offence falls under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a jail term of between 3 and 10 years, and a fine of RM20,000 upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Abdullah Khazali asked the court to set RM8,000 bail in one surety for the accused.
However, counsel Khairul Amin Abdullah pleaded for minimum bail.
The court set RM4,000 bail in one surety and revoked the accused's driving licence until the case is completed.
It was reported that Zaili, 44, was en route to Bukit Antarabangsa when he was struck by a car and died at the scene from severe head injuries.
Zaili, who was also a contract worker, was returning to his home after sending food to his wife to be sold.
After being rammed by the car, Zaili was thrown to the road shoulder – but his motorcycle was caught under the vehicle and was dragged for about two kilometres from the crash site.
The driver – a car accessories shop worker – only brought his vehicle to a stop when members of the public intervened.