A 55-year-old Chinese national died just hours after being sentenced in a Malaysian court over a dangerous driving incident in Kedah.
The man, identified as Lu Xun, had reportedly been convicted at the Sungai Petani Magistrate’s Court on Apr. 30 after allegedly driving against the flow of traffic and crashing into another vehicle.
However, shortly after court proceedings concluded, he was taken to hospital for treatment where he later died.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of death.
Appeared Weak And Dazed During Court Proceedings
According to Malaysian media reports, Lu appeared visibly unwell when he arrived at court in a police vehicle.
He was reportedly dressed casually in a T-shirt and sarong and appeared disoriented and physically weak.
At one point, he was allegedly seen lying inside the police van as officers attempted to escort him into the courthouse.
Police officers later transferred him into a wheelchair before bringing him into the courtroom.
Reports also stated that Lu’s daughter was present during the proceedings and became emotional upon seeing her father. She allegedly attempted to approach him but was stopped by an officer.
The unusual courtroom scene later drew widespread attention online after photos and videos circulated on Malaysian social media platforms.
Accused Of Driving Against Traffic And Crashing Into Another Vehicle
Lu, who was reportedly a company director living in Malaysia for around 30 years, was accused of driving against traffic along Jalan Lencongan Barat in Kuala Muda, Kedah.
The incident allegedly occurred at around 9:20pm on Apr. 26.
Authorities said the vehicle eventually collided with another car.
Lu reportedly suffered facial injuries and initially received treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital.
Police also alleged that he refused to provide a blood sample during investigations.
He was later charged under Malaysia’s Road Transport Act 1987 for dangerous driving.
Sentenced To Jail And Fined RM10,000
The court reportedly sentenced Lu to one day in jail and imposed a RM10,000 fine, equivalent to approximately S$2,860.
His driving licence was also suspended for two years.
Under the sentence, he could have faced an additional 12 months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.
Hours after the hearing ended, Lu was reportedly transferred to Pantai Hospital for further medical treatment.
He later died at around 5:30pm the same day.
The death was subsequently confirmed by Kuala Muda police chief Hanyan Ramlan.
Cause Of Death Still Unknown
At the time of writing, Malaysian authorities have not released details regarding the exact medical condition or cause of death.
The case has sparked discussion online after images of Lu appearing visibly frail and disoriented in custody surfaced across social media.
Some netizens questioned whether he had been medically fit to attend court proceedings, while others speculated about possible underlying health complications.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.