JOHOR BARU: The High Court here ordered a sales promoter who was involved in an accident that killed eight teenage cyclists four years ago to enter her defence.
Judicial Commissioner Dr Shahnaz Sulaiman reached the decision after finding that the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against Sam Ke Ting, 26.
The decision followed an appeal by the prosecution against the decision to acquit and discharge Sam.
"The High Court allowed our appeal against the magistrate's decision to acquit the accused," said Deputy Public Prosecutors Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali when met after the proceeding.
On Oct 28, 2019, Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali acquitted Sam without calling for her defence, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against her.
On Nov 10, 2019, the prosecution filed a notice of appeal against the magistrate's decision.
In today's proceeding, Muhammad Syafiq and Deputy Public Prosecutor Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman appeared for the prosecution while counsel Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar represented Sam.
Later at the Magistrate Court, Magistrate Zuhainie Zull Kafli fixed May 9 to 11 for the trial.
She also set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered Sam to surrender her driving license and passport to the court.
Sam was charged with reckless driving, causing the death of eight teenage cyclists at the Middle Ring Road, here, at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.
She was accused of causing the deaths of Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14; and Haizad Kasrin, 16.
She was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine not exceeding RM20,000, upon conviction.