A former hairstylist was yesterday sentenced by the Bukit Mertajam Sessions Court to three years' jail for causing the death of a friend due to reckless driving, three years ago.

M. Vaitheswaran, 24, was also ordered to pay a fine of RM10,000 or serve another year in jail in default, and had his driving licence suspended for five years.

Sessions Court Judge Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin, who presided as a magistrate, passed the sentence saying the case has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Earlier in mitigation, the accused's counsel K. Paramanathan asked for a lighter sentence, saying Vaitheswaran had suffered enough after losing his job and having his driving licence suspended after the incident three years ago, reported Bernama.

In the 2.45am incident on Jan 20, 2019, Vaitheswaran was charged with driving his Toyota Vios in a dangerous manner at Km4 (Perai-bound) of the Penang Bridge, before knocking into a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven by his friend, Moey Yun Peng, who was also 20 then, causing the latter vehicle to plunge into the water below.

It took a search and recovery team three days to find and lift the submerged SUV out of the choppy waters.

Vaitheswaran was charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum 10 years’ jail and a fine of up to RM20,000 upon conviction.


Source: Bernama
Photo source: FMT, The Star