Chinatown Car Accident: A 38-year-old woman involved in a tragic car accident in Chinatown that resulted in the death of a six-year-old girl has been charged at the State Courts. The incident occurred on February 6 near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where the young girl, Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani, sustained severe head injuries and later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. Her body was subsequently returned to Jakarta for burial.
The woman faces two charges: careless driving causing death and grievous hurt. She did not indicate her plea during Wednesday’s court session, and a pre-trial conference has been scheduled for May 13. The court has issued a gag order to protect the identity of her six-year-old son, who is considered a potential witness. This order also prevents the publication of the vehicle registration number involved in the accident. The gag order was requested by her defense lawyer, Mr. Navin Thevar, and was not opposed by the prosecution.
Mr. Thevar explained that such orders are standard practice to shield the identities of children involved in road traffic accident cases, citing past examples where the identities of children and their parents were protected to prevent undue public scrutiny and trauma. He emphasized that the gag order is crucial to prevent further distress for the accused’s son amid online vitriol, which he described as xenophobic and untrue.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Vishnu Menon confirmed that the gag order aligns with provisions under the Children and Young Persons Act. The victim’s mother, Ms. Raisha Anindra Pascasiswi, was also injured in the incident and has since been discharged from the hospital.
The woman faces potential penalties, including imprisonment and fines, if convicted of causing death or grievous hurt by driving without due care and attention.
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