KUALA LUMPUR — An Immigration Department ‘Black Maria’ lorry driver has claimed trial to five charges, including dangerous driving that allegedly caused the deaths of a father and his two daughters in a crash at Jalan Sultan Ismail early yesterday.
Mohd Akbar Zainol, 43, pleaded not guilty after all charges were read before Magistrate Aliaa Anwar at the Magistrate’s Court here today, local media reported.
The first three charges involved allegations that he drove an Isuzu lorry belonging to the Immigration Department in a dangerous manner, resulting in the deaths of Shaik Mohd Firdaus Shaikh Yahya, 53, and his daughters Siti Norshazlin, 24, and Siti Darwisyah Auni, 12.
The alleged offence occurred at the Maju Junction intersection, Jalan Sultan Ismail, at about 1am on Aug 19.
The charges were brought under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a jail term of between five and 10 years, a fine of RM20,000 to RM50,000, and disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least five years upon conviction.
For the fourth charge, Mohd Akbar was accused of driving the same vehicle without due care and attention, causing injuries to Nor Hayati Rozali, 55, at the same location, date and time.
The charge, under Section 43(1) of the same Act, provides for a fine of between RM5,000 and RM10,000 and imprisonment of up to 12 months upon conviction.
The fifth charge alleged that Mohd Akbar failed to comply with a traffic signal by running a red light at the Jalan Sultan Ismail intersection.
He was charged under Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a fine of between RM300 and RM2,000 upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Syajaratudur Abd Rahman proposed bail of RM15,000 for each charge, with one surety, along with additional conditions requiring the accused to report to a nearby police station every month and surrender his passport to the court until the conclusion of the case.
However, the court later allowed Mohd Akbar to be released on bail of RM60,000 for all five charges.
The court also ordered him to report to the police station once a month, and suspended his driving licence and passport until the case is concluded.
The court fixed Oct 27 for mention of the case.
Defence lawyer Izzat Amir Saharudin told the court that Mohd Akbar had served with the Immigration Department for 11 years and had no previous criminal record.
He added that the accused has a school-going child and is also responsible for caring for his elderly and ailing mother in Kedah.
The accident claimed the lives of Shaik Mohd Firdaus and his two daughters, who were pedestrians at the scene. His wife, Nor Hayati, was injured in the incident.
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the accident occurred when the empty Immigration Department lorry was travelling from the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office towards Chow Kit.
The vehicle was reportedly heading to assist with an operation involving illegal immigrants when it entered the intersection against a red light while using its beacon and siren.
The lorry then collided with a Proton Saga travelling through the junction when the traffic light was green, causing it to lose control and skid before hitting pedestrians and another vehicle, an Inokom Matrix.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Meanwhile, Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the department had suspended Mohd Akbar’s duties to allow a full investigation into the incident.
“Our department’s immediate action is to suspend the driver’s duties until the case is resolved and to provide full cooperation to the police in this case.
“JIM is also conducting an internal investigation from the aspect of compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP),” he said. – August 20, 2026