Accra:A lorry driver pleaded not guilty in the Magistrates' Court to charges of driving against traffic while under the influence of drugs, resulting in injuries to four people last week.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, C. Agilan, 51, made this plea after the charge was presented before Magistrate Ameera Mastura Khamis. He is accused of driving a lorry under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine, which allegedly impaired his ability to control the vehicle, causing injuries to individuals aged between 58 and 17. The incident reportedly occurred around 430 pm on October 9 at Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari.
Agilan faces charges under Section 44(1A)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to RM50,000. Deputy public prosecutor Alia Anisa Khairus Masnan requested bail be set at RM15,000 and asked for the surrender of Agilan's driving license.
Agilan's lawyer, Rohan Singh, sought a lower bail, emphasizing that Agilan supports his wife, who does not work, and their 11-year-old child on a monthly salary of approximately RM1,700.
In a separate proceeding before Magistrate Wan Noora Nisa Ngadirin, Agilan also pleaded not guilty to a charge of self-administering methamphetamine and amphetamine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office on the night of October 9. This charge is under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which can lead to a jail sentence of up to two years or a maximum fine of RM5,000.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Amirah Zahari proposed a bail of RM7,000 for this charge, and Rohan Singh again requested a reduction. The court set bail at RM9,000 for the first charge and suspended Agilan's driving license until the case concludes. For the second charge, bail was set at RM3,900.
The cases are scheduled for mention on December 22 this year and January 11, 2027, respectively. Previously, it was reported that four people sustained injuries, one critically, when a 10-tonne lorry driven against traffic collided with 11 vehicles at the Alam Budiman traffic lights on Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari.