Pekan: A technician working for a company that provides agricultural goods and machinery entered a plea of not guilty in the Magistrate's Court today, facing charges of reckless driving that led to the deaths of three individuals in Pekan this past June. The accused, Syed Muhammad Izzat Aiman Syed Ahmad, 31, responded to the charges read by Magistrate Melody Woon Sze Mun.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the charges specify that the accused drove a four-wheel-drive Isuzu D-Max recklessly on June 19 at KM 67 Jalan Kuantan-Segamat. The incident, which occurred at 5:30 pm, resulted in the deaths of Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy Mohd Atan, 33, Dhea Sofia Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy, 2, and Azaharuddin Mohd Ali, 46. The charge falls under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which stipulates a prison sentence ranging from five to ten years and a fine between RM20,000 and RM50,000 upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamisah Ismail proposed a bail of RM15,000 and requested the suspension of the accused's driving licence until the case reaches a conclusion. In contrast, the defense lawyer, Muhamad Izwan Ishak, argued for a more reasonable bail amount, citing the accused's financial constraints and personal circumstances, including his wife's current pregnancy and his monthly income of RM1,500.

The court decided to grant bail at RM7,000 with one surety and imposed an additional condition requiring the accused to report to the Muadzam Shah Police Station in Rompin every Wednesday at 9 am. Additionally, the court ordered the suspension of the accused's driving licence until the case is resolved, and scheduled September 18 for further mention of the case for document submissions.

On the day of the incident, June 19, three individuals, among them a doctor, lost their lives, and six others sustained injuries in the multi-vehicle accident at KM 67 Jalan Kuantan-Segamat near Pekan.