COURT WATCH: Murder charges, Zara Qairina inquest and major legal challenges [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: An e-hailing driver has pleaded not guilty to three charges over a crash that killed a 22-year-old Maldivian student and injured another passenger, including driving under the influence of methamphetamine.

The case leads this week's Court Watch, alongside murder charges against two teenagers over the death of their junior, fresh developments in the Zara Qairina inquest, and several significant legal challenges.

E-hailing driver charged over crash that killed student, injured another

Five days after a crash claimed the life of a 22-year-old Maldivian student, an e-hailing driver was brought before the Shah Alam Magistrate's Court to face three charges linked to the accident, including causing death while driving under the influence of methamphetamine.

Muhamad Syafiq Ibrahim, 37, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a Perodua Ativa under the influence of methamphetamine, resulting in the death of Aamina Imeely Nazim, a private university student.

He also claimed trial to a second charge of driving the same vehicle under the influence of the drug, causing injuries to another 22-year-old Maldivian passenger, Aishath Sara Nizam.

Syafiq further pleaded not guilty to a third charge of driving without due care and attention, resulting in a collision with another vehicle and causing injuries to Aishath.

Aamina and Aishath were passengers in Syafiq's e-hailing vehicle.

The offences were allegedly committed at 8.40pm on Oct 4 along the Damansara-Puchong Highway, near the Puchong Selatan toll plaza, heading towards Puchong.

Police said the crash occurred when Syafiq's Ativa crashed into another car while approaching the toll plaza's RFID lane.

The impact caused the Ativa to spin before overturning.

Below are some of the other major court cases this week.

TWO TEENAGERS CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF THEIR JUNIOR

In Kuala Pilah, two 16-year-old boys were charged with murdering their 14-year-old junior at a sports school hostel last month.

They were charged with murdering Muhammad Idlan Fareeq Shahril between 7.30pm and 8.50pm on Sept 25.

The proceedings, led by Negri Sembilan prosecution director Engku Ahmad Rashdi Engku Abdillah, were conducted in camera as both accused are juveniles.

Lawyer Datuk Hanif Hassan, who represented both teenagers, said the court had fixed Dec 7 for the submission of pathology, chemistry and forensic reports.

He said the defence had applied for both teenagers to be sent to a correctional centre pending the next court date to allow counselling by the Social Welfare Department.

CORONER'S COURT VISITS ZARA QAIRINA'S SCHOOL AGAIN

From the courtroom to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, the Coroner's Court returned to the school in Papar for a second site visit as part of the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.

The latest visit on Oct 5 lasted nearly four hours, with coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, deputy public prosecutors and legal representatives of interested parties inspecting classrooms, the design and technology room, hostel dormitories and toilets.

Teachers and students familiar with the school also accompanied the group and helped clarify locations, layout and physical conditions referred to during the inquest.

The first site visit was conducted on Sept 11 last year.

Zara Qairina was found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel about 4am on July 16 last year and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

This week, Zara Qairina's half-sister, Malianah Mahathir, 25, and mother, Noraidah Lamat, 46, testified as the 81st and 82nd witnesses respectively.

UNDANGS WITHDRAW JUDICIAL REVIEW AFTER MB SIGNS PROCLAMATION

A legal challenge by the Undang Yang Empat came to an end after Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim signed the proclamation they had sought to compel him to sign.

The four Undangs had filed a judicial review application seeking an order requiring Ismail to sign the proclamation concerning the removal of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

However, Ismail signed the proclamation on Aug 3, before the court could hear the substantive challenge.

Lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Aziz told High Court judge Norliza Othman that the application had become academic.

Norliza allowed the withdrawal without liberty for the applicants to file afresh and ordered them to pay RM40,000 in costs to four proposed interveners.

The four Undangs are Datuk Mubarak Thahak, Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and Datuk Abd Rahim Yasin.

BAR FAILS TO CHALLENGE TERRIRUDIN'S JAC APPOINTMENT

The Malaysian Bar failed in its bid to challenge the appointment of Federal Court judge Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

High Court judge Norliza Othman dismissed the Bar's application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings, ruling that the proposed challenge was not legally arguable.

She said Section 5(1)(e) of the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 was clear in requiring the appointee to be a serving Federal Court judge and the appointment to be made by the prime minister.

The court found that both requirements were met in Ahmad Terrirudin's appointment.

The Bar had sought a certiorari order to quash Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's decision to appoint Ahmad Terrirudin as a member of the JAC.