Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle, 39, pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges read to him before magistrate Firdaus Nor Azlan at the Gerik magistrates’ court, reported Berita Harian.

He was accused of committing the offences at Km53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, at about 1.15am on June 9.

Amirul was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction.

He was also charged with an additional offence of reckless and dangerous driving under Section 42(1) of the same Act.

He pleaded not guilty to that charge as well.

If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison, a fine of between RM5,000 and RM15,000, and a minimum five-year suspension of his driving licence.

In the June 9 incident, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu to UPSI’s main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when it collided with a car at Km53 of the East-West Highway in Gerik.

Thirteen students died at the scene, and  two more died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

The crash also left 33 others injured, including Amirul, his assistant and the four people in the car.