Lady Driver In Road Crash Resulting In Death Of Dungun UiTM Students Charged With Murder

DUNGUN, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The lady driver who crashed her car into four Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dungun students last Wednesday was charged at the Magistrate's Court, here today, with three counts of murder for the death of three of the victims.

The charges, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, were read out to Norizan Ismail, 49, before Magistrate Nur Amira Fatihah Osman.

According to the charges, the mother of three was charged with murder for causing the death of Muhammad Akmal Md Tukirin, 25, Ku Adib Aizad Ku Azmi, 20, and Khairil Anwar Jamaludin, also 20, at 7.35 pm, last Oct 9 at Jalan Pantai in front of UiTM Dungun. 

However, no plea was recorded as the murder case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Norizan can be sentenced to death or imprisonment for not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, to be whipped not less than 12 strokes, if found guilty.

Earlier, Norizan, when brought into the courtroom, said she was shy and did not want to stand in the dock when asked by the interpreter her name and identity card number, but confirmed them when the information was displayed on a television screen in the court.

After the first charge was read out and asked by the interpreter if she understood the charges,  Norizan said: "Saya terima saya dituduh” (I accept that I’m being charged).

State Prosecution Director Azizan Abdullah, appearing for the prosecution, then stood up and told the court that the action by the accused reflected her mental state before asking the interpreter to read out the remaining two charges

Norizan nodded after the second charge was read out and shook her head to the third charge, but nodded after it was read out again.

Questioned by Magistrate Nur Amirah Fatihah about what she understood what was read out to her by the interpreter, Norizan said: “I was charged with hitting people. I understand what was read out, but I don't know who I killed”.

Azizan did not offer bail, saying that the accused showed signs of insanity, including during the investigation,  where the recording of her statement was a problem.

He then requested the woman to be sent for psychiatric evaluation in accordance with Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Lawyer Nur Farahin Shazlin Mohd Redhuan Shah Edwin,  representing Norizan, did not object to it.

Magistrate Nur Amirah Fatihah then ordered Norizan to be for mental examination at Permai Hospital, Johor Bharu for a month and set Nov 17 for mention.

 In the incident at 7.35 pm last Wednesday, Norizan who was driving a sports utility vehicle crashed into four UiTM Dungun students.

Three of them -- Ku Adib Aizad, Khairil Anwar and Muhammad Akmal -- died in the crash, while Muhammad Ammar Danish Mohamad Ridhuan, 20, was injured.

Meanwhile, Norizan was also charged in the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court with the attempted murder of Muhammad Ammar Danish, who was injured in the crash, at the same time, date and location.

However, no plea was recorded.

The charge, under Section 307 (1) of the Penal Code, was read out to her before Judge Mohd Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli. 

She faces imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine, and if the act causes injury to a person, can be imprisoned for up to 20 years, upon conviction.

The court also ordered the woman sent for mental observation at Permai Johor Bahru Hospital and set Nov 18 for mention.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Nabihah Hanim Ayim appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Ghazali Ismail represented the accused.

-- BERNAMA