Flight Attendant Denied Bail on Drunk Driving Murder Charge

Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin was charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court on 28 October 2026, following a fatal crash on 24 October. The 26-year-old flight attendant had bail denied before Magistrate MS Arunjothy, with the case scheduled for mention on 30 November.

The accused previously pleaded not guilty on 26 October to two drink-driving charges under the Road Transport Act 1987, after allegedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 64 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, exceeding the statutory 50-milligram limit. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry leads the prosecution, while Mohd Anih Rafih represents the defence.

Key Facts

The key facts centre on a 26-year-old flight attendant facing murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code after a fatal collision in Kuala Lumpur. Proceedings also encompass two drink-driving charges following blood alcohol tests that exceeded statutory thresholds. Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin faces a capital murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code with bail denied.

What Legal Penalties Apply Under Section 302 and the Road Transport Act?

A conviction under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries either the death penalty or imprisonment between 30 and 40 years, alongside a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane. Separately, the Road Transport Act 1987 provisions carry fines up to RM100,000, prison terms reaching 15 years, and a minimum 10-year driving disqualification.

According to reports published by Malaysiakini citing Bernama, the prosecution initiated charges under both the Penal Code and road transport legislation. On 26 October 2026, Mohd Iman Nafiz pleaded not guilty to charges under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987, as amended in 2020, for causing the death of 29-year-old Faris Irfan Fazli while driving under the influence of alcohol. That charge stipulates a mandatory prison term of between 10 and 15 years and a fine ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000.

A second charge under Section 44(1A)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 addresses injuries sustained by 49-year-old Ahmad Zakiyamani Zakaria @ Yusuff in the same incident, carrying a custodial sentence of seven to 10 years and a fine between RM30,000 and RM50,000. Convictions under these road transport sections also impose an automatic disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least 10 years from the date of conviction.

Under Section 44 of the Road Transport Act 1987 as amended in 2020, fatal drink-driving convictions incur up to 15 years imprisonment, fines up to RM100,000, and a 10-year driving disqualification.

Why Was No Plea Recorded and Bail Refused in the Magistrate's Court?

No plea was recorded from Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin before Magistrate MS Arunjothy because murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Consequently, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court refused bail and remanded the accused pending case mention on 30 November 2026.

During the court proceedings on 28 October 2026, the 26-year-old flight attendant nodded to confirm he understood the murder charge read out to him. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry represented the prosecution, while defence counsel Mohd Anih Rafih appeared on behalf of the accused. Because murder is a non-bailable capital offence tried before the High Court, the subordinate Magistrates’ Court could neither accept a formal plea nor grant bail.

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrates' Court denied bail to Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin on 28 October 2026 because murder cases under Section 302 fall exclusively under High Court jurisdiction.

How It Compares for Malaysian Users

This case demonstrates the severe legal divergence between standard road traffic offences and capital murder charges under Malaysian law. Motorists in Malaysia face statutory blood alcohol thresholds capped at 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, with severe penalties including mandatory custodial sentencing and licence disqualifications exceeding a decade.

The evidentiary facts recorded by the prosecution show that Mohd Iman Nafiz drove with a blood alcohol concentration of 64 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, exceeding the prescribed statutory limit of 50 milligrams. The statutory charges brought against the accused compare as follows:

The prescribed legal alcohol limit for drivers in Malaysia is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood under the Road Transport Act 1987.

Common Questions

Common legal questions regarding this case focus on the statutory alcohol threshold, potential sentences under murder charges, and scheduled court dates in Malaysia. Malaysian transport and criminal statutes enforce strict penalties for vehicular incidents causing death. Under Malaysian criminal procedure, capital murder charges under Section 302 are tried exclusively before the High Court rather than a Magistrates' Court.

What is the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers in Malaysia?

Under the Road Transport Act 1987 as amended in 2020, the prescribed legal blood alcohol limit in Malaysia is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. In this case, the accused was charged after testing at 64 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

What sentence does a convicted person face under Section 302 of the Penal Code?

Under Section 302 of the Penal Code in Malaysia, a person convicted of murder faces either the death penalty or a prison sentence of between 30 and 40 years. Convicts sentenced to imprisonment also face a mandatory minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

When is the next court date for Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin?

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrates' Court has scheduled the next case mention for 30 November 2026. Magistrate MS Arunjothy denied bail to Mohd Iman Nafiz Fong Mohd Sabirin following the reading of the murder charge, keeping the 26-year-old accused in remand until that court appearance.

Sources and Methodology

This legal report synthesises factual court reporting published by Careta regarding murder and drink-driving charges heard at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court. Information originated from domestic reporting by Qalif Latif citing coverage from Malaysiakini and Bernama. Editorial information was translated from Malay source material detailing criminal charges filed on 28 October 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.

Original report: Careta

This report was translated from the original Malay language text into British English. All monetary penalties were originally stated in Ringgit Malaysia (RM), requiring no foreign currency conversions.

This article is based on the source report above and was last updated on 28 October 2026.