KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 ― The driver to the late Karpal Singh, C. Selvam, was today acquitted by the magistrate’s court in Kampar of reckless endangerment charges over the 2014 accident that caused the death of the former DAP chief and his aide Michael Cornelius.
Magistrate Mohamad Ibrahim Mohamad Ghulam found that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the 20-year-old Indian national, The Star Online news portal reported.
Selvam expressed relied following the decision and thanked Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan and lawyer Baljit Singh, who had helped him for the past two years.
“I feel good. I am very happy to be going back to see my family,” he was quoted as saying after being acquitted, stressing that he intends to go back to India.
He declined comment when asked if he had anything to say to Karpal’s family.
Selvan was charged under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act and could have faced up to two years’ jail and fined up to RM 20,000 had he been convicted.
A total of 21 prosecution witness testified during the trial.
On April 17, 2014, the vehicle Selvam drove had collided with a lorry on the North South Expressway near Kampar at 12.40am, resulting in the death of Karpal and Michael.
