Teen who drove against traffic claims trial to DUI charge (Updated)

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The 19-year-old youth who drove against traffic flow and caused a fatal accident which claimed the life of a man, pleaded not guilty to committing an offence of driving under the influence at the Bukit Mertajam magistrate's court here today.
The accused, Ng Pei Ven, claimed trial in front of Magistrate Jamaliah Abd Manap.
According to the charge sheet read in Mandarin by a translator, the accused was claimed to have driven under the influence of drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a vehicle, causing the death of a 26-year-old man, Mohamad Fandi Rosli, about 7.50am at KM134 of the North South Expressway (NSE).
She is charged with committing the offence under Section 44 (1) (a) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a jail term between three and 10 years or fine between RM8,000 and RM20,000 or both, and her driving license would also be suspended for a minimum of five years if convicted.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani while Ng was represented by lawyer Parmjit Singh Mahinder.
Razali requested a bail of RM10,000, but Parmjit requested to lower the bail as she is a 19-year-old with disabilities (OKU).
The Magistrate allowed bail of RM7,000 with two sureties and fixed May 12 for mention.
According to Razali, the chemistry report is still pending.
Ng, dressed in a blue blouse and wearing a face mask, was accompanied to court by her parents at 8am this morning.
The incident had gone viral on social media, with some netizens urging the police to charge the teenager from Butterworth under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Last Friday, Ng pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to a charge of taking amphetamine under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 at the Bukit Mertajam magistrate's court.
The case mention for the drug abuse charge has also been fixed for May 12.
In the March 14 incident, Ng allegedly made a U-turn at KM128 of the North South Expressway (NSE) when she claimed she saw a stalled lorry about 7.50am.
The U-turn resulted in her going against traffic flow and grazing against three vehicles.
She continued to drive for some 5km against traffic before crashing into a car driven by Mohamad Fandi Rosli, 26, at KM134 of the NSE, killing him on the spot.