Kelantan teacher claims trial over student's death, injury to another

KOTA BARU: A female teacher has claimed trial in the magistrate's court to two counts of negligence resulting in the death of one student and injuries to another at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tanjong Mas in April.

The accused, Sakinah Ismail, 57, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before magistrate Wan Mohd I'zzat Wan Abdullah.

According to the first charge, Sakinah is accused of acting negligently while driving her Honda HR-V, causing the death of a 13-year-old girl on the afternoon of April 12.

She was charged under Section 304A of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.

For the second charge, Sakinah is accused of negligently knocking down another 13-year-old girl, endangering her life, at the same time and place.

The charge was framed under Section 336 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to three months' jail, a fine of up to RM500, or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Nadzir Abdullah prosecuted, while lawyers Muhammad Hasif Hasan and Wan Fadhil Fayyadh Wan Mohd Zuhairi represented Sakinah.

Earlier, Nadzir proposed bail of RM3,000 for both charges with one surety.

Hasif sought a lower amount, saying his client, a religious teacher, had cooperated with the authorities.

He added that she had no prior criminal record and had received the Excellent Service Award twice.

"She was also named the teacher with the best personality at the school last year and is set to retire on Nov 16," he said.

The court set bail at RM2,000 for both charges with one surety and fixed Dec 6 for re-mention.