JOHOR BARU (Bernama): The prosecution on Tuesday (Oct 12) filed an appeal against a Magistrate’s Court decision in acquitting and discharging a female saleswoman on a charge of reckless driving that resulted in the death of eight teenagers on modified bicycles, commonly known as "basikal lajak”, four years ago.

       The notice of appeal was filed by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali and assistant legal officer at the Johor Legal Adviser's Office, Nurrul Azrina Arza at the Magistrate/Sessions Court counter, Johor Baru Court Complex, at about 9.15am.

       Also present were Johor Baru Selatan Traffic investigating officer ASP Mohd Yusop Mohd Ali and deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Qaiyyum Ramlan.

       The prosecution is appealing against the decision of the Magistrate’s Court at the High Court.

       Muhammad Syafiq, when met by reporters, said the appeal was filed today following instruction from the Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.

       Now that we have filed the notice of appeal, we wait for the court to fix the hearing date, he added.

       Last Sunday, the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court acquitted and discharged Sam Ke Ting, 26, on a charge of reckless or dangerous driving, resulting in the death of eight cyclists in Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, in Johor Baru, at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.

       Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali, in her ruling said that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

       Siti Hajar said she also took into account the reasonable testimony of the accused that she had no knowledge of the riding activities on modified bicycles in the area and that there were no warnings of such activities.

       On Oct 28, 2019, the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court acquitted and discharged the saleswoman of the charge at the end of the prosecution’s case without calling to enter her defence.

       However, on Feb 18 this year the Johor Baru High Court ordered Sam to enter her defence after allowing the prosecution’s appeal.

       The court held that the prosecution proved a prima facie case against the accused, thus setting aside the magistrate's decision on Oct 28, 2019.

       Sam, who at the time of the incident was 22 years old, was charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of RM20,000, if convicted.

       The eight victims were Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14 (at the time of the incident), 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. - Bernama