KAJANG, May 21 — A lorry driver who ignored a roadblock in Kajang and hit a number of vehicles while escaping towards Subang Jaya was sentenced to five years in prison by the Magistrate’s Court here today.
Nik Muhamad Khairul Azhar Nik Azmi, 28, in light green T-shirt and wearing a cervical collar appeared nonchalant responding, “saya mengaku salah puan” while flashing a smile at the other accused persons prompting magistrate Nor Afidah Idris to ask his lawyer whether he was mentally and physically well.
Counsel Nor Asyikin Zakaria told the court that her client who was accused of four charges, did not have any medical issue.
For reckless driving, Nik Muhamad Khairul Azhar was meted out two years and suspended from driving for three years.
For attempted murder by trying to run down a policeman, he received five years.
For obstructing a policeman from carrying out his duty, he received one year, and for committing mischief, two years’ jail.
The magistrate ordered the sentences to run concurrently from his arrest on May 7.
According to the facts of the case, police stopped Nik Muhamad Khairul Azhar at a roadblock in Kajang suspecting that the lorry he was driving was overloaded. Instead, he sped off.
Police personnel on motorcycles pursued and tried to overtake him but he tried to run them down and in the event hit other vehicles. Police were forced to shoot at the lorry’s tyres as it entered Subang Jaya causing the vehicle to skid and hit an electricity pole.
In mitigation, counsel told the court that the accused who is married with three young children was remorseful for his action and sought forgiveness from the victims.
However, deputy public prosecutor Anis Suraya Ahmad urged the court to impose a heavy sentence considering that the accused had put other people’s lives besides his own, in danger. She said the punishment should also serve as a lesson to society to not break the law at their whims. — Bernama
