The driver of an express bus, which was involved in an accident at Km124 of the East-West Highway between Jeli and Gerik last Friday that killed four passengers, was charged at the Machang Magistrate's Court today.

Muhammad Hazil Hakimi Ahmad Zaki, 26, pleaded not guilty on the charge and claimed trial before Magistrate Amal Razim Alias.

According to the charge, Muhammad Hazil Hakimi was accused of being negligent when driving the express bus WVW 7689 belonging to Syarikat SP Bumi from Gerik, Perak, to Jeli, Kelantan, at the location which caused the death of four passengers at 1.30am on Dec 25.

He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and a maximum fine of RM20,000 upon conviction.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Ainul Wardah Shahidan requested bail be set at RM20,000 after taking into consideration public interest over the death of four passengers.

However, the accused, who was represented by counsel Ahmad Nizam Mohamed and Alias Ibrahim, argued that the accused's family could only afford RM5,000.

Magistrate Amal Razim, however, allowed the accused to go on bail at RM8,000 in one surety and had his driving licence and passport impounded.

In the incident last Friday, the express bus carrying 30 passengers from Taiping, Perak, was heading to Kuala Terengganu when it lost control before it skidded and grazed a trailer transporting plywood, causing the death of four passengers.

The dead victims were identified as Hasiah Osman, 57; and her son, Muhammad Amir Abdul Rahim, 19, of Penang; as well as Nur Afiqah Alimi Mohd Ali, 19; and Muhammad Syafiq Azrul Azmi, 25; of Kuala Terengganu.

- Bernama