The police today denied an allegation that the female driver who ploughed into a group of teenage cyclists, killing eight of them, last Saturday night, is the daughter of a VIP.

Johor Bahru South police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh, who confirmed the matter, said speculation linking the release of the 22-year-old woman to her family's status was untrue and unfounded.

"Give the police time to conduct investigations, do not rush to make assumptions," he said when contacted here today.

He was commenting on statements and pictures made viral on social media claiming the woman's release on bail was due to her family's connections.

In the early morning incident on February 18, eight teenagers who were cycling on Jalan Lingkaran Dalam near here were killed after being hit by the car being driven by the female driver.

The incident also left four others with broken legs, two in unstable condition due to brain haemorrhage, one with head wound, and another with a hip injury.

The woman was arrested for investigation and released on police bail the following day (Feb 19) after her statement was recorded. -- BERNAMA