Military Man Who Punched Female Driver Pleads Not Guilty, Seeks Lower Bail Due to Family Commitments
Abdul Hafiz, who allegedly punched a woman after she hit his daughter with her car, pleads not guilty. His lawyer appeals for lower bail, citing family responsibilities.
Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar, a 35-year-old military personnel, pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court in Seremban today (7 April) to a charge of assaulting a female driver in a recent incident that went viral.
The alleged assault took place on 29 March at around 10:20 PM in Taman Satria, Senawang, after the female driver reportedly hit Abdul Hafiz’s daughter who was crossing the road at the time. According to reports, the accused reacted by punching the woman in the head.
The incident sparked public attention and backlash after a video of the confrontation was widely circulated on social media.
The accused was arrested by police on 30 March when he voluntarily went to the station to provide a statement. He was later released on bail.
During the court proceedings today, the charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code was read to Abdul Hafiz. He was accused of intentionally causing harm by punching a 28-year-old woman. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a fine up to RM2,000, or both.
Abdul Hafiz pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadia Ezzati Mohd Zainal proposed bail be set at RM2,000 with one surety, citing the seriousness of the offence.
However, Chrysandy Lai, a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) representing the accused, requested the court to consider a lower bail. He argued that Abdul Hafiz is the sole breadwinner of his family, which includes his wife, two children, and elderly parents.
The court eventually granted bail of RM2,000 with one surety, as proposed. The case has been scheduled for mention on 19 May to allow time for submission of relevant documents and medical reports.
Prior to the court hearing, it was reported that Abdul Hafiz had pleaded with the victim’s family to drop the charges. However, the victim’s sister later alleged that Abdul had exaggerated the incident, claiming that his daughter and wife were thrown farther than they actually were.
As the legal process continues, the case remains under public scrutiny, highlighting ongoing discussions around road safety, emotional reactions, and the role of justice in high-stress incidents.
Source : Sinar Harian
