PETALING JAYA: A man who drove against traffic on the North-South Expressway (NSE) last month to avoid a roadblock today claimed trial to a charge of drink-driving at the Magistrate’s Court in Tapah, Perak.
Bernama reported T Yugeswaran, 34, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol above the permitted level on Nov 11 at 6pm, at the NSE, while on his way back to his hometown Bidor.
A video of the accused, who is a sales agent, driving his Perodua Axia for 1.4km against traffic had also gone viral.
Citing the growing number of cases of drink-driving and driving against traffic, deputy public prosecutor Nur Amanina Zulkefli urged the court to set bail at RM30,000.
However, the court fixed bail at RM12,000 with two sureties after Yugeswaran’s lawyer, Amani William-Hunt Abdullah pleaded for a lower amount on grounds that the accused had family financial commitments, the national news agency reported.
The case has been fixed for re-mention on Jan 21, next year.
The accused, who was travelling from Klang, intended to leave the highway at the Sungkai exit but turned back when he spotted a police roadblock before the toll.
He carried on his drive south against the traffic on the north-bound stretch and soon collided with a Toyota Rush SUV. His vehicle was also hit by a trailer lorry but no casualties nor injuries were reported.
If convicted, he faces a jail term of not more than two years, a fine ranging from RM10,000 to RM30,000, and revocation of his driving licence for two years or more, under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020 for driving under the influence (DUI), which came into effect on Oct 23 this year.