Lorry driver in Karpal crash tests positive for drugs

KUALA LUMPUR — Traces of cannabis have been found in the urine sample of the lorry driver whose vehicle was involved in a collision with the Toyota Alphard which the late Karpal Singh was travelling in.

Perak police chief Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani told The Malaysian Insider that the initial urine screening of the 45-year-old driver revealed traces of cannabis.

“We have sent the urine sample to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for confirmation,” Mr Acryl said.

The Malaysian Insider also learnt that initial checks revealed that Karpal’s driver is believed to have 15 outstanding traffic summonses for speeding. Checks on the Toyota Alphard revealed that a total of 29 traffic summonses had been issued, of which 15 had not been settled.

Mr Acryl said this was the result of initial checks and investigations which were conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

The accident is believed to have occurred about 1.10am when the multipurpose vehicle (MPV) bearing Karpal collided with a five-tonne Mitsubishi Canter lorry. The collision took place at KM306.1 of the North-South Expressway. There were five people in the MPV and three in the lorry.

The five in the MPV were Karpal, his son Ramkarpal, his personal assistant Michael Cornelius, an Indonesian maid and driver C Selvam.

In the lorry, apart from the driver, there was a woman, Nur Azlina Ahmad, 23, and a four-year-old girl, Nurieman Diana Qhaleesha Abdullah.

Both Karpal and Michael are believed to have died at the scene following the collision while the maid suffered severe injuries.

This is the second incident that the police have announced of a driver of a heavy-duty vehicle testing positive for drugs.

On Tuesday (April 15), police said the driver of a double-decker express bus, which crashed last Saturday and resulted in three deaths, tested positive for drugs. Bentong OCPD Superintendant Mansor Mohd Nor said the bus driver, Wan Khairul Affendi Wan Mustafa, 35, would be charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, at a Magistrate’s Court. The offence carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine of up to RM5,000 (S$1,900) upon conviction.

During the 12.30am incident at KM11 Jalan Bentong-Raub last Saturday, the bus crashed into a pole, killing an African man, his pregnant Malaysian wife and another passenger. Ten other passengers including Wan Khairul were injured in the tragedy. The bus, carrying 69 passengers, was heading to Kota Baru from Kuala Lumpur. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER