Lorry driver charged with causing woman's death while on drugs

SEREMBAN: A 30-year-old 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 pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Sessions judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi on Tuesday (Oct 1).

He was charged with causing the death of the 31-year-old woman on Jalan Persiaran Negeri by crashing his sand-laden lorry into her vehicle at around 4.15pm on Friday (Sept 27).

He also allegedly ploughed into four other vehicles in the crash.

A urine check conducted on the accused came back positive for methamphetamine.

Jimhar is charged under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and is liable to imprisonment of between 10 and 15 years and a fine of RM50,000 to RM100,000 if convicted.

He can also be barred from holding a driving licence for 10 years.

Initial investigations found that the lorry driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the other vehicles which had stopped at the traffic light.

Four others were injured in the crash.

DPP Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan told the court the prosecution was not offering bail to the accused.

Jimhar's counsel A. Partheeban, however, asked the court to allow bail as the accused had to provide for his two young children and his pregnant wife.

Meor Sulaiman then allowed the accused to be released on RM10,000 bail with one surety and fixed Nov 25 for next mention.

In a separate court later, the accused also claimed trial to a drug abuse charge under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli.

He was charged with 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 upon conviction.

DPP Norshafatihah Nor Azmi proposed bail at RM6,000 with one surety pending next mention.

Partheeban again requested a lower amount, citing the accused's family responsibilities.

Nurul Saqinah then set bail at RM2,500 with one surety and fixed next mention on Nov 25.