Accra:A female teacher has pleaded not guilty in the Magistrates' Court to charges related to a fatal accident that occurred at a school last April. Sakinah Ismail, 57, faced charges of causing the death of a student and injuring another due to negligence.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sakinah entered her plea after the charges were read by Magistrate Wan Mohd I'zzat Wan Abdullah. The first charge accuses her of negligence resulting in the death of a Form One female student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tanjong Mas on April 12 of the previous year. This charge falls under Section 304A of the Penal Code, which could result in a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The second charge involves allegations of negligence involving the injury of another Form One student, who was struck by a Honda HR-V driven by the accused at the same location and time. This offence is under Section 336 of the Penal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of three months in jail, a fine up to RM500, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Nadzir Abdullah represented the prosecution, while defense lawyers Muhammad Hasif Hasan and Wan Fadhil Fayyadh Wan Mohd Zuhairi appeared for Sakinah. The prosecution requested a bail of RM3,000 for both charges, but the defense argued for the minimum bail, noting the accused's previously clean record.

The court set bail at RM2,000 with one surety for both charges and scheduled the next mention and submission of documents for December 6. The incident on April 12 resulted in the death of a student from severe head injuries and serious injury to another after the teacher's car reportedly accelerated accidentally, striking the students in front of the surau at SMK Tanjong Mas.