Six years ago, 22-year-old sales associate Sam Ke Ting had been driving home along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam in Johor Bahru at around 3.20am in the morning, when she suddenly crashed into a group of 30 young cyclists riding on illegally modified bicycles known as basikal lajak. As a result, eight of those young boys died, with Sam eventually being charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act with ‘reckless or dangerous driving’.
Sam Ke Ting freed of charges from 2017 basikal lajak case
However just yesterday, it was finally determined by a three panel judge from the Court of Appeals that the charges set against her were faulty, and that she would be acquitted at long last.
With that said, the parents of the young cyclists who perished during the unfortunate ordeal are hurt and disappointed in the court’s decision to acquit Sam. As reported by local newspaper The New Straits Times, the mother to one of the victims, 49-year-old Fatimah Nasir, said that they have no choice but to accept the court’s decision, despite it being difficult and painful.
“We are still haunted by the tragedy, although it’s been six years since we lost Azrie,”
“We (the other victims’ family members) had expected that Sam would be acquitted when the case was brought to the Court of Appeal. We are really disappointed, but we have to accept, stay calm and move on with life,” she said.
Wounds have yet to heal
Fatimah adds that criticisms against the parents of the victims over their apparent negligence in childcare have only added salt to wounds that have yet to fully heal.
“It’s very hurtful, sad and annoying when people insult us as their parents. We are yet to recover from our loss, and these insults add salt to the wounds.”
“We would have definitely stopped them if we knew they had sneaked out… show me any parent you know who would have allowed their children to cycle on a main road in the wee hours of the morning?” she adds.
Her sentiments were echoed by her 49-year-old husband, who said that all the families of the victims involved experienced grief and trauma when the case is called to court.
“I am sure Sam has regrets and will also be haunted by this tragedy for the rest of her life. Let us and Sam deal with our emotions and move on,” he said.
Sam has since apologised to the families of the victim’s involved over the tragedy, and said that she was ‘haunted’ by the incident and will ‘carry this feeling to the grave’, reports Malay Mail.
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Also read: Sam Ke Ting acquitted of reckless driving charge from 2017 basikal lajak case
