JOHOR BARU: A 17-year-old teenage girl was today charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the Juvenile Court here for causing the death of her brother last week.
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to her by the court interpreter before Magistrate Zuhaini Zull Kafli.
In the charge sheet, it stated the teenager allegedly caused the death of her 16-year-old brother at their house in Jalan Mini Stadium, Kampung Ulu Pulai here at 1.50pm on Oct 19.
The eldest of five siblings was charged under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code and if found guilty she will face imprisonment for a term that may extend to 10 years or fine or both, if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.
Prosecution was done by Johor prosecution director Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman and deputy public prosecutor, Hayatul Wirdah Mohd Yunos who suggested bail to be set at RM10,000.
The teenager's lawyers Abd Rahim Ali, Jihad Syahida Nadia Zakaria and Nur Zafirah Norizan had asked for lower bail since the accused is a minor.
"The accused is a child and there is no reason for her to flee. Also, the court has to take into account the accused family's background and that she will sit for the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) next year."
The court set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the Gelang patah police station on monthly basis.
It was learnt the accused's father had posted the bail.