BENTONG: The tour bus company involved in the Genting Highlands crash, which resulted in the death of two Chinese tourists on June 29, was charged in the magistrate's court here today.
M. Kumar Trans Tour Sdn Bhd was slapped with two charges over its failure to ensure the safety of passengers and road users by permitting a driver without licence to drive the bus, and operate with an expired permit.
Company director M. Kumar, 50, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read by the court interpreter before magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa Abu Bakar.
According to the charge sheet, M. Kumar Trans Tour Sdn. Bhd. as the licence owner for the tour bus with the registration number WSJ2209 driven by S. Anand Kumar had failed to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users resulting in the death of two passengers by allowing a driver without licence to get behind the wheel of the company vehicle.
The charges were framed under Section 41 (1)(b)(ii) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, which carries a fine up to RM500,000, two years prison, or both, and the forfeiture of a relevant vehicle under Section 80(4) of the same Act.
For the second charge, M. Kumar Trans Tour Sdn Bhd as the licence owner for the tour bus, bearing the registration number WSJ2209 driven by Anand Kumar, had committed an offence by operating the vehicle with a tour bus permit, which had expired on Feb 16 this year.
The charge was framed under Section 41 (1)(b)(iii) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, which carries a fine up to RM500,000, two years prison, or both, and the forfeiture of a relevant vehicle under Section 80(4) of the same Act.
The offence was allegedly committed at Km16.5, Jalan Genting Highlands (downhill), at around 10.20am on June 29.
Road Transport Department prosecuting officer Mohd Nasrul Fazimi Mat Nasir requested the court to set bail at RM10,000 for each charge and set a new date for document submission.
Lawyer P. Taneswaran, who appeared for M. Kumar Trans Tour Sdn Bhd, pleaded for a minimum bail saying it was unfair to impose such a huge bail amount and there was no need for separate bail amounts as the trial would be held concurrently.
Nuur Fakhizaa set bail at RM6,000 for both charges with one surety.
She fixed Sept 27 for mention.
The tour bus accident on June 29 made headlines after it resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals, Zhang Ping, 58, and Wang Suhong, 49, who were killed on the spot. Several others on board were injured.
On July 3, bus driver Anand Kumar, 32, pleaded not guilty at the Raub magistrate's court after he was charged with dangerous driving and driving the vehicle without a licence.