KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — A man was today charged with reckless driving in an accident that took place two months ago which has left Klang marathon runner Evelyn Ang unconscious.
Teoh Thiam Lim, 27, reportedly pleaded not guilty in the Klang magistrate’s court to the charge of reckless and dangerous driving under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
According to local daily Sinar Harian, he was accused of committing the offence in a Proton Iswara car at 4.30am on December 10, 2017 at Mile 2, Jalan Kapar.
A conviction under Section 42(1) will result in a maximum five-year jail term and a fine of between RM5,000 to a maximum RM15,000, with the particulars of the conviction to be endorsed on the convicted person’s driving licence.
The convicted person will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than two years from the conviction date.
Klang magistrate Roslizi Sulaiman allowed Teoh a bail of RM5,500 together with one surety and fixed March 9 for the case to be mentioned again, Sinar Harian said.
Deputy public prosecutor Amira Abd Aziz had initially offered bail of RM8,000 for Teoh who was not represented by a lawyer, local daily Harian Metro reported.
Last December 10, Ang and two other runners were hit by a driver at 4.30am at the 14km mark during the Klang City International Marathon 2017. Ang reportedly suffered a skull fracture with bleeding in her brain, while the two others — Amiruddin Hamid and fellow pacer Ahmad Hadafi Jus — sustained minor injuries.
Last month, Ang’s husband Dennis Loo told Malay Mail that she has undergone four surgeries since the accident and is now in stable condition, but is still being closely monitored at the hospital.
“She is no longer in an induced coma but has not regained consciousness either. She is off the respirator and her general condition is now stable but she is still not conscious yet. She is out of ICU but is she being monitored vigilantly,” he told Malay Mail then.
Ang had told Malay Mail that he hoped that “justice will be served”.
Following the accident, Klang Utara district police had launched an investigation on the driver under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for careless and inconsiderate driving, which is punishable by a fine of between RM4,000 and RM10,000 and a maximum one-year jail term.
