Malaysian Lorry Driver Charged with Causing Deaths of 9 Police Officers in Crash

A 45-year-old lorry driver, Rudi Zulkarnain Mat Radi, was charged on May 16 at the Teluk Intan Magistrate’s Court with reckless driving that led to the deaths of nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers in a fatal crash on May 13.

Rudi, a resident of Kampung Kota in Hilir Perak, pleaded not guilty to the nine charges read before Sessions Court judge Norhamizah Shaiffudin, according to Sinar Harian.

The charges relate to an accident on Jalan Sungai Manik, where Rudi allegedly drove dangerously at the 15km mark around 9am, resulting in the deaths of FRU officers: S. Perumal, 44; Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46; Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41; Nurit Pandak, 34; Amiruddin Zabri, 38; Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38; Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35; Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33; and Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28.

If convicted, he faces five to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to RM50,000 (S$15,100), and a minimum five-year driving ban.

Prosecutor Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan proposed bail of RM10,000 per charge, with conditions including the suspension of Rudi’s driving licence and mandatory weekly reporting to police.

Rudi, who earns under RM2,000 monthly and suffers from asthma, was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Francais Sinnappan, who appealed for lower bail.

The court granted bail at RM6,000 in total and imposed the requested conditions. The case was adjourned to June 17 for mention and the appointment of counsel.

The crash occurred when a gravel-laden lorry veered into the opposite lane, colliding with a truck carrying 18 FRU Unit 5 members returning to Ipoh after duty at the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan. Eight officers died on the spot, one later at the hospital, and nine others sustained injuries—some critically.