BUTTERWORTH: A service engineer was today charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the death of two friends, last month.
C, 47, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Magistrate Siti Zulaikha Nordin @ Ghani.
Teoh is alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol, and caused the death of two teachers Muhammad Fakhrul Rodzi Fauzi, 31, and Muhammed Ahsan Mohamed Ayub, 32.
The incident occurred at Jalan Permatang Baru Nawar in the Seberang Prai Utara district at 2.30am on Dec 16, last year.
He was charged under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a jail term of between 10 and 15 years, and a fine of between RM50,000 and RM100,000, upon conviction.
Deputy Public ProsecutorNurameera Shahrul Azrin asked the court to set a RM10,000 bail.
Teoh's counsel Benjamin Tan Yi Bin pleaded for minimum bail stating that his client had been cooperative with the authority and was of no flight risk.
"He received a call yesterday to be present in court today to face the charge and he came.
"Also, the bail is just to secure his attendance in court and not a form of punishment," he said.
Tan also told the court that his client earned RM7,000 as a service engineer and was divorced from his wife.
He said his client also had to care for his three school-going children and his aged and ailing parents.
"A bailor is here to bail him out.
"As such, we asked for a minimal bail," he said.
Tan was assisted by Chew Anthony.
Siti Zulaikha set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and fixed March 7 for the case pending document submissions.
It was reported that two friends died when the Perodua Myvi they were travelling in was involved in a crash with a BMW at Jalan Permatang Baru on Dec 16, last year.
Police subsequently detained the BMW driver.
A breathalyser test conducted on the driver found alcohol content above the permissible limit.