Cement tanker driver charged with murder over highway crash

The driver of a cement tanker currently receiving treatment at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital in Temerloh, Pahang, was charged today with four counts of murder over a crash that killed four people on Aug 31.

No plea was recorded from Zulkarnain Noh, 52, after the charges were read to him before magistrate Nuur Fakhizaa Abu Bakar, as the charges fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction, Bernama reported.

Zulkarnain is accused of causing the deaths of Nazatullah Nazmi, Nur Atiqah Sofiya Kazwan, Armaan Nazeef Nazatullah and Seow Beng Wai at Km110.3 of the East Coast Expressway (eastbound) at about 10.30pm.

He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murder, which carries the death penalty or 30 to 40 years’ imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the rotan, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutors Najimi Arif Nasarudin and Anis Syakilla Zawawi appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.

Nuur Fakhizaa set Nov 12 for submission of documents and mention.