Chartered bus driver claims trial to dangerous and reckless driving, causing death of 15 UPSI students (VIDEO)
GERIK, June 13 — Mohd Amirul Fadhil who was behind the wheel of the chartered bus that crashed on the East-West Highway, was today charged with dangerous driving, after 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on board died on June 9.
The 39-year-old was charged with 15 counts under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries up to 10 years' jail and a RM50,000 fine upon conviction.
'I understand. I plead not guilty,' he was quoted as saying in the Magistrate's Court here by Sinar Harian after the charges were read out.
He also claimed trial to a separate charge of reckless driving under Section 42(1), which carries up to five years' jail, a fine between RM5,000 and RM15,000, and a minimum five-year licence suspension.
The crash occurred at about 1am last Monday, while the bus was ferrying 42 students from Jertih, Terengganu to UPSI's main campus.
Thirteen students died at the scene, while two more died in hospital.
Pemandu bas mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Majistret atas tuduhan memandu secara merbahaya hingga sebabkan kematian 15 pelajar UPSI. : Abdul Razak #digitalbernamatv#nahaspelajarUPSI#nahasGerik #mahkamah pic.twitter.com/OMsxw7Yt6y
June 13, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore clamps down on crypto exchanges after scandals, warns foreign-focused firms to shut or comply
SINGAPORE, June 30 — Singapore ramped up crypto exchange regulations today in a bid to curb money laundering and boost market confidence after a series of high-profile scandals rattled the sector. The city-state's central bank last month said digital token service providers (DTSPs) that served only overseas clients must have a licence to continue operations past June 30 — or close up shop. The Monetary Authority of Singapore in a subsequent statement added that it has 'set the bar high for licensing and will generally not issue a licence' for such operations. Singapore, a major Asian financial hub, has taken a hit to its reputation after several high-profile recent cases dented trust in the emerging crypto sector. These included the collapse of cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital and Terraform Labs, which both filed for bankruptcy in 2022. 'The money laundering risks are higher in such business models and if their substantive regulated activity is outside of Singapore, the MAS is unable to effectively supervise such persons,' the central bank said, referring to firms serving solely foreign clients. Analysts welcomed the move to tighten controls on crypto exchanges. 'With the new DTSP regime, MAS is reinforcing that financial integrity is a red line,' Chengyi Ong, head of Asia Pacific policy at crypto data group Chainalysis, told AFP. 'The goal is to insulate Singapore from the reputational risk that a crypto business based in Singapore, operating without sufficient oversight, is knowingly or unknowingly involved in illicit activity.' Law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher said in a comment on its website that the move will 'allow Singapore to be fully compliant' with the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force, the France-based global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. Three Arrows Capital filed for bankruptcy in 2022 when its fortunes suffered a sharp decline after a massive sell-off of assets it had bet on as prices nosedived in crypto markets. Its Singaporean co-founder Su Zhu was arrested at Changi Airport while trying to leave the country and jailed for four months. A court in the British Virgin Islands later ordered a US$1.14 billion worldwide asset freeze on the company's founders. Singapore-based Terraform Labs also saw its cryptocurrencies crash dramatically in 2022, forcing it to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States. The collapse of the firm's TerraUSD and Luna wiped out around US$40 billion in investments and caused wider losses in the global crypto market estimated at more than US$400 billion. South Korean Do Kwon, who co-founded Terraform in 2018, was arrested in 2023 in Montenegro and later extradited to the United States on fraud charges related to the crash. He had been on the run after fleeing Singapore and South Korea. — AFP
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
Grave of UPSI student Nurly cordoned off amid superstition concerns
The overwhelming influx of visitors has led to troubling incidents. SHAH ALAM – The family of the late hafizah, Nurly Sahirah Azman, has erected a barrier around her grave to curb inappropriate behaviour by visitors, prompting religious authorities to issue a public reminder on proper conduct at burial grounds. Nurly Sahirah, 23, a student at Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), died in a tragic bus accident near Tasik Banding, Gerik, on June 9. Her death moved the nation, especially after it was reported she passed away while holding a Quran and that her body emitted a pleasant fragrance, attributes often associated with piety in Islamic tradition. Since her burial at the Kampung Gong Pasir Muslim Cemetery in Kerandang, Terengganu, hundreds have visited her grave and family home to pay their respects. Many came to view her handwritten Quran and honour her commitment as a hafizah who routinely reviewed and transcribed verses to deepen her memorisation. However, the overwhelming influx of visitors has led to troubling incidents. Some individuals reportedly collected soil from her grave, storing it in plastic bags or smearing it on children's faces in the belief that it bore spiritual blessings. The family of the late hafizah, Nurly Sahirah Azman, has erected a barrier around her grave to curb inappropriate behaviour by visitors, prompting religious authorities to issue a public reminder on proper conduct at burial grounds Ahmad Nazrul Muhammad, a community activist with Pertubuhan Amal Komuniti Besut, confirmed that the family decided to cordon off the area with a rope barrier to prevent further desecration. 'We're not stopping anyone from visiting. People are still welcome to come and offer prayers but please, behave with dignity. 'When we visit a grave, we pray for the deceased. It is not a place to seek favours from the departed,' he said. The Besut District Religious Office reportedly begun monitoring the site and would take strict action against those found engaging in superstitious or un-Islamic practices. Night-time patrols are also expected to be carried out periodically. The situation has drawn national attention, including a strong statement from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Na'im reminded Muslims to observe proper adab when visiting burial sites and warned against turning graves into sources of superstition or self-promotion. "I have followed news reports about certain individuals allegedly taking soil from the grave of Nurly Shahirah Azman in the belief that it brings blessings. Such action is deplorable and goes against the principles of Islamic faith," he said. He warned that behaviours such as smearing grave soil on faces or attributing mystical powers to the deceased border on shirk (associating partners with God) and deviate from the tenets of Islam. "I support the firm yet respectful approach taken by Nurly Shahirah's family in handling this issue, as well as the efforts of the religious authorities in monitoring burial grounds. This is in line with the government's ongoing efforts to combat superstitious practices and strengthen the Islamic faith among Muslims in the country," he said. Meanwhile, the family has announced a temporary closure of their home to visitors from Wednesday, July 2, to Saturday, July 5, to allow time for rest. Her brother, Mohd Najmuddin, shared that their parents are emotionally and physically exhausted. 'Please give them space to recover. Your prayers and understanding mean the world to us,' he said. Her sister, Muni Azman, echoed the request, adding, 'Since her passing, our parents have not had a single moment's rest. There will be time for others to visit later, inshaAllah.' As the nation continues to mourn and reflect on the noble life and death of Nurly Sahirah, religious leaders urge the public to focus on meaningful remembrance — not ritualised actions that stray from Islamic doctrine.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Sabah CM: No interference from state govt, let legal process decide fate of assemblymen charged with corruption
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the state government is leaving the matter of its two assemblymen facing corruption charges to the legal process. He added that decisions regarding their government appointments would be made once the situation becomes clearer. 'We respect the law, and we will let the legal process take its course. The GRS state government will not interfere in any investigation or legal action on any of its government leaders,' he said in a statement here today. 'As for their position in the present government, we will consider this carefully in due course after all relevant information and reports have been received,' he said. He was commenting on Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandi, who were charged with corruption before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga today. Hajiji said the GRS state government is committed to ensuring integrity in the administration and management of the government. The mining scandal, which came to light late last year, has implicated GRS leaders through videos showing them allegedly discussing payments for helping to secure prospecting licenses. Others implicated are state finance minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, deputy chief minister III and state works minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, state minister of science, technology and innovation Datuk Arifin Arif, Kemabong assemblyperson and chairperson of Sabah Economic Development Corporation Datuk Rubin Balang, Tempasuk assemblyman Arsad Bistari and Kuamut assemblyperson Datuk Masiung Banah.
