DUNGUN: The woman who crashed her car into four Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dungun students last week has been charged in the Magistrate’s Court with three counts of murder for the death of three of them.
The charges, framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, were read out to Norizan Ismail, 49, before magistrate Nur Amira Fatihah Osman.
The mother of three was charged with causing the death of Muhammad Akmal Md Tukirin, 25, Ku Adib Aizad Ku Azmi and Khairil Anwar Jamaludin, both 20, at 7.35pm on Oct 9 at Jalan Pantai in front of UiTM Dungun.
No plea was recorded as the murder case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court, Bernama reported.
She can be sentenced to death or jail of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, a whipping of not fewer than 12 strokes if found guilty.
Earlier, Norizan, when brought into the courtroom, said she was shy and did not want to stand in the dock when the interpreter asked her to state her name and MyKad number.
She confirmed the details when the information was displayed on a TV screen in court.
Close watch: Norizan being escorted by police at the Magistrate’s Court in Dungun, Terengganu. — Bernama
After the first charge was read out and when asked by the interpreter if she understood the charges, Norizan replied: “Saya terima saya dituduh” (I accept that I’m being charged).
State prosecution director Azizan Abdullah, appearing for the prosecution, told the court that the action by the accused reflected her mental state and asked the interpreter to read out the remaining two charges.
Norizan nodded after the second charge was read out and shook her head to the third, but nodded after it was read out again.
Asked by the magistrate about what she understood from the charges read out to her, the accused said: “I was charged with hitting people. I understand what was read out, but I don’t know who I killed.”
Azizan did not propose bail, saying the accused showed signs of insanity – including during the investigation, with the recording of her statement posing a problem.
He requested Norizan be sent for psychiatric evaluation in accordance with Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The defence counsel did not object.
The magistrate then ordered Norizan to be sent for mental evaluation at Hospital Permai, Johor Baru, for a month and set Nov 17 for mention.
In the incident at 7.35pm, Norizan who was driving an SUV crashed into four UiTM Dungun students on motorcycles, killing three of them. Muhammad Ammar Danish Mohamad Ridhuan, 20, was left injured.
Meanwhile, Norizan was also charged in the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court with the attempted murder of Muhammad Ammar Danish. No plea was recorded.
The charge, under Section 307 (1) of the Penal Code, was read out to her before judge Mohd Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli.
She faces imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine, and if the act caused injury, can be jailed for up to 20 years upon conviction.
The court also ordered the woman sent for mental observation at Hospital Permai and set Nov 18 for mention.
