JOHOR BAHRU – The families of the eight teenagers who died after their modified bicycles (basikal lajak) collided with Sam Ke Ting’s car in 2017 are overjoyed after hearing of the latest court ruling.
According to Free Malaysia Today, Sabariah Yusof, 54, the mother of one of the victims, Azhar Amir, 16, said she’s still haunted by her son’s absence and that the tragedy is still weighing heavily on her.
When I woke up in the morning, I felt like waking him up to go to school, imagining he was still there. I also did not move the bed he always slept in, it is still there.
“I was devastated to learn that the woman who caused the disaster had been released. I had no idea she was sentenced today! I am happy that justice has been served. This emotion is indescribable.
“However, I accept this as fate and a test from God,” she told reporters at her home in Senibong.
The mother of ten added that although she endured much emotional distress as a result of the incident, she managed to hold on thanks to the support she received from the locals, her family, and her son’s school teachers.
I was heartbroken when people condemned him because he was a wonderful son who was very close to me.
“He rarely rode the bicycle since he helped me sell pudding every night at nearby stalls. On that fateful day however, he came home, left the house, and got involved in the deadly crash,” she recalled.
Salman Ahmed, 56, whose son Muhamad Arif, 20, survived the accident, said the latter has gone through much emotional anguish after sustaining severe injuries and a concussion.
He also claimed that the accident also led his youngest son, who was 15 at the time, to experience anxiety whenever he saw a bicycle after barely stepped out of the house after completing SPM.
The Johor Bahru High Court handed Sam a six-year prison term and a RM6,000 fine yesterday (Apr 13) after finding her guilty of reckless driving.
