18-Year-Old Dies From Electrocution While Charging Phone In Express Bus At Penang Sentral
The Transport Ministry has impounded the bus for further investigations.
By May Vin Ang — 04 Nov 2024, 09:30 AM
An 18-year-old teenager died while charging his mobile phone using a socket on an express bus at the Penang Sentral bus terminal on Friday, 1 November
According to the New Straits Times, North Seberang Prai police chief ACP Anuar Abdul Rahman said police were alerted to the incident at 7.40pm.
The bus was scheduled to depart for KL Sentral.
However, within 10 minutes of boarding the bus, the bus driver told the police they heard screaming and saw the passenger foaming at the mouth.
An ambulance was called, but the victim had died at the scene, paramedics confirmed
"An initial investigation revealed burn marks on the victim's left fingers, suspected to be from an electric shock while he was charging his phone," said Anuar in a statement on Saturday, 2 November.
Anuar added that the conclusion was drawn from the melted end of the charging cable and the overheated state of the phone.
The deceased has been identified as Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi.
A post-mortem was conducted at Seberang Jaya Hospital, which found no other injuries or elements of criminal conduct.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said a special task force will be formed to investigate the incident
The task force will be made up of personnel from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), Road Transport Department (JPJ), and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).
"The ministry views this incident very seriously. I have ordered APAD to impound the bus in question with immediate effect for JPJ to carry out further investigations," he said on Sunday, 3 November, as quoted by The Star.
Loke added that the task force will investigate the cause of the electrocution to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. The minister also extended his condolences to the family of the 18-year-old victim.
