Lorry driver in Shah Alam 12-vehicle pile-up pleads not guilty to drug-impaired driving

Shah Alam, October 13 - A 51-year-old lorry driver, C. Agilan, appeared in the Magistrates' Court pleading not guilty to charges of driving against traffic while under the influence of drugs and causing injuries to four others last week. Agilan, who allegedly consumed methamphetamine and amphetamine, was driving a 10-tonne lorry when it crashed into 11 vehicles at around 4.30pm on October 9 at Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari.

He faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine of RM50,000 under Section 44(1A)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987, according to prosecutors.

Agilan's lawyer, Rohan Singh, requested a minimum bail amount, citing his client's financial responsibilities to his wife and an 11-year-old child. For the second charge, Agilan pleaded not guilty to self-administering methamphetamine and amphetamine, which carries a potential two-year jail term or a RM5,000 fine under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The court granted bail of RM9,000 for the first charge and suspended Agilan's driving licence until the case is concluded, while a bail of RM3,900 was allowed for the second charge. Both cases were set for mention on December 22, 2023, and January 11, 2027, respectively.