GURUN: A lorry driver claimed trial at the Gurun magistrate's court here today to charges of reckless driving resulting in the deaths of three soldiers on Feb 2.
Muhammad Huzaifah Azhari, 31, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by an interpreter before magistrate Anis Suraya Ahmad.
Huzaifah, from Alor Star, was accused of driving his lorry dangerously at Km77.5 of the North-South Expressway, heading for Kuala Muda district, leading to the deaths of Lance Corporal Mohd Hafiz Haris, 30, Sergeant Rozali Abdull Rani, 39, and Corporal Mohd Asri Idris, 40, about 10.30am.
Deputy public prosecutor Natasha Azmi recommended bail at RM30,000.
National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Ummi Kalthum Zakaria, who appeared for the accused, pleaded for the minimum bail as he had a wife and two young children to support.
The court granted bail at RM10,000 with one surety and suspended Huzaifah's driving licence.
The court set mention on March 6.
On Feb 2, three soldiers died in a collision involving four vehicles, including three military trucks and an Isuzu truck.
The victims died at the scene.
The three soldiers were travelling in a convoy to Bukit Cowder Camp in Kangar, Perlis.
However, one of the vehicles broke down, forcing them to stop on the emergency lane before being struck by a lorry.