Ex-trailer driver begins 4-year jail term for driving under the influence of alcohol

 Court reinstates Y Vethri Vel’s conviction for drink-driving that killed four and injured another in 2020.

Y Vethri Vel was originally charged with two offences under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 involving driving under the influence of alcohol. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

A former trailer driver began serving a four-year jail term today after the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution’s final appeal to reinstate the magistrates’ court’s conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to another six years ago.

A three-member bench chaired by Justice Azman Abdullah also set aside a High Court decision that substituted the original charges with different offences and imposed an eight-year jail term on Y Vethri Vel, 32.

Azman, who sat with Justices Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz and K Muniandy, said the bench allowed the prosecution’s appeal after considering the parties’ written submissions.

“We agree with the magistrate’s finding as detailed in the written grounds,” he said.

As Vethri was on bail pending the outcome of the appeal, the court issued a warrant of committal for him to begin serving his sentence immediately.

He was also fined RM20,000, which he had paid, and disqualified from driving for five years.

He was originally charged with two offences under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

The first involved driving under the influence of alcohol and causing the deaths of Faiz Bakhari, 28; his wife, Nik Iedayu Nik Hassan, 30; their 16-month-old baby, Faqih Irsyad Faiz; and Nik Iedayu’s sister, Nik Ifeka Nik Hassan, 27.

Under the second charge, he was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injuries to Fariz Iskandar Faiz, the couple’s surviving elder son.

The incident occurred at about 10.20pm on Feb 13, 2020, at KM37 of the Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar Road in Sungai Siput, Perak.

The magistrates’ court sentenced him to four years in jail on each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Following Vethri’s appeal, the Taiping High Court substituted the original charges and convicted him of four counts under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act for dangerous and reckless driving.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and fined RM20,000 on each count, with a three-month jail term in default of payment.

The High Court also convicted him under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Fariz and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

The prosecution submitted to the Court of Appeal that the High Court had erred in substituting the charges.

Deputy public prosecutor Amril Johari appeared for the prosecution, while Nurul Diyana Basher and Danial Luqman Jafri represented Vethri. - FMT