Chinese engineer jailed in Malaysia over fatal crash that killed senior court official

The Sessions Court in Sibu handed down the sentence to 42-year-old Sun Xue Song on Tuesday for dangerous driving resulting in death, stemming from a March 30 incident that killed Marutin Pagan, the 56-year-old director of the Sabah State Courts, the South China Morning Post reported.

Sun was also fined RM20,000 ($4,721) and banned from driving in Malaysia for five years starting from April 7, the date he was formally charged.

His jail term is backdated to March 30, the day of his arrest, The Star reported.

According to court documents, Sun was driving a sports utility vehicle when he recklessly entered the Kanowit roundabout near Sibu, Sarawak, around 1 p.m., crashing into another vehicle and fatally injuring Marutin.

Under Malaysian law, causing death by reckless or dangerous driving carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a 50,000 ringgit fine.