BUKIT MERTAJAM: The court has ordered 23-year-old former hairstylist M. Vaitheswaran to enter his defence over reckless driving and killing a 20-year-old college student in an accident on the Penang Bridge two years ago.

       Sessions Court judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin, presiding as a magistrate, said the prosecution has proved prima facie in the case and the accused would next be asked to enter his defence.

       Ahzal then set Oct 28 and 29 for three witnesses, namely the accused, his mother and a medical specialist, to give their sworn evidence.

       Vaitheswaran appeared calm throughout the proceedings at the end of prosecution here on Wednesday (Sept 29).

       He was represented by K. Paramanathan while Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohammad Nazri Abdul Rahim prosecuted the case.

       Vaitheswaran was charged with reckless and dangerous driving resulting in the death of Moey Yun Peng in 2019.

       He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing the death of Moey, then 20, at Km4 of the mainland-bound side of the Penang Bridge at about 3am on Jan 20 that year.

       Vaitheswaran faces a maximum of 10 years' jail, a RM20,000 fine or both if found guilty.

       The sport utility vehicle driven by Moey plunged into the sea after colliding with Vaitheswaran's car.

       It took rescuers two days to salvage Moey’s SUV and recover his body.