Peter Paul Santanam, 49, was charged with committing the offence at Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, Bayan Lepas, at about 6.30pm on Nov 7 and causing the death of Muhammad Saifullah Mohammad Hafiez, 16.

Santanam was charged under Section 44 (1) of the Road Transport Department Act 1987 with driving under the influence of drugs. The offence carries a maximum RM20,000 fine and a jail term of 10 years upon conviction.

Santanam pleaded not guilty before magistrate Ahmad Tajudin Zain.

Deputy public prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid asked for bail of RM20,000 with one surety, but Santanam’s lawyer S Yagoo pleaded for a lower amount, saying his client earned RM1,400 a month and was his family’s sole breadwinner.

Tajudin allowed bail of RM12,000 with one surety and set Dec 5 for mention.

In the incident last Thursday, the bus driven by Santanam had mowed through an intersection, colliding into Saifullah as well as a car carrying a woman and two children before crashing into the backyard of a corner-lot house.

Santanam’s urine tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also said he had no licence to drive the bus.