University Student Denies Drink-Driving Charge Over Istana Negara Security Barrier Crash

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23: A 22-year-old private university student pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court on Friday to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and crashing into a security barrier at Gate 2 of Istana Negara.

The accused, M. Kajen, entered his plea after the charge was read before Magistrate Khairunnisak Hassni.

According to the charge, the student was alleged to have driven a car with a blood alcohol concentration of 166 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, exceeding the legal limit, at around 3.50am along Jalan Changkat Semantan.

The charge was brought under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, and disqualification from holding a driving license for up to five years, if convicted.

During proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Insp. Shazwan Hasifi Shahrun proposed bail at RM10,000. However, the accused sought a reduced amount, telling the court that he is still pursuing his studies and comes from a low-income family.

The court allowed bail at RM4,000 with one surety and fixed Feb 26 for case mention.