SEREMBAN: A lorry driver claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to a charge of causing the death of a woman while driving under the influence of drugs.
Jimhar Albasar, 30, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi.
He was charged with causing the death of the 31-year-old woman, who was driving along Jalan Persiaran Negeri, when he ploughed his sand-laden lorry into her car.
He also crashed into four other vehicles during the accident at around 4.15pm on Sept 27.
A urine check that was conducted on him came back positive for methamphetamine.
Initial investigations showed that the lorry driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the other vehicles which had stopped at a traffic light.
Four others were injured in the crash.
The accused was charged under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act.
Offenders can be jailed between 10 and 15 years and fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000 upon conviction. They can also be barred from holding a driving licence for 10 years.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan informed the court that the prosecution was not offering bail to the accused.
However, lawyer A. Partheeban asked the court to allow bail as the accused had to provide for his two young children and his pregnant wife.
Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi allowed the accused to be released on a RM10,000 bail with one surety.
He fixed Nov 25 for remention.
In a Magistrate’s Court later, the accused claimed trial for a drug abuse charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act before Nurul Saqinah Rosli.
He was accused of committing the offence at around 11.55pm on Sept 27 at the Nilai police station.
The charge carries a fine of not more than RM5,000 or a jail term not exceeding two years.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshafatihah Nor Azmi then asked the court to set bail at RM6,000 with one surety pending remention.
Partheeban, once again, asked for a low bail as the accused had to provide for his family.
Magistrate Nurul Saqinah subsequently allowed a RM2,500 bail with one surety and set remention for Nov 25.
