Crime & Courts

Drunk driver gets 13 years in jail for fatal crash that killed 2 sisters

KOTA KINABALU: A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined RM50,000, in default 12 months' jail, for drunk driving that resulted in the deaths of two sisters.

Traffic Court magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali handed down the sentence to Walter Witjoanes, a final-semester resort management student, when the case was heard for facts and sentencing today.

The court also ordered that his jail term begin immediately from the date of conviction.

Additionally, Wan Farrah ordered that Walter's conviction be endorsed on his driving licence, and he be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 13 years.

Walter, who had pleaded guilty on Jan 9, was found guilty of driving a Toyota Hilux with 247mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, well above the legal limit, leading to the deaths of Dg Nurshamirah Dulamit, 27, and Dg Nurshatirah Dulamit, 24.

The tragic accident occurred on Aug 30, 2024, at 2.35am at the KKIA traffic light on Jalan Kepayan.

The offence falls under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a prison sentence of between 10 and 15 years, a fine ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000, and a licence disqualification upon conviction.

The victims were engulfed in flames and confirmed dead at the scene.

The victims' family members, who were present in court, were visibly emotional as the details of the case were read out.

Walter's lawyer, Adam D. B. Aludah, pleaded for leniency, citing the accused's remorse and his guilty plea, which saved the court's time.

He also said that Walter was a first-time offender and still young.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Yuvan Bharathan urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, stressing the severity of the offence, which led to the loss of two innocent lives.

Lawyer Syed Anwar S.H. Abdullah acted as the watching brief counsel for the victims' families.

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