Hadzarshah Abu Hassan Al Sha’ari, 42,  pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him by an interpreter before magistrate Ahmad Hamdi Mustafar, Harian Metro reported.

Hadzarshah, who now works as a lorry driver, was alleged to have driven a bus under the influence of drugs, rendering him incapable of controlling it and causing the death of a passenger, Michiyo Saito.

He was accused of committing the offence at Km230.3 of the North–South Expressway (southbound), near Larut Matang and Selama, at about 1.30pm on Oct 24, 2024.

The charge was framed under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Nazura Azman told the court  the accused should not be granted bail, citing his failure to appear in court previously and his lack of cooperation with police.

“The case has also drawn attention from both the federal government and Japan, as it involves the death of a Japanese national, and there are concerns that the accused may abscond again,” she said.

Ahmad Mukmin Aimi Azmi, a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation representing the accused, requested that the court impose the minimum bail amount, arguing that his client  only earns RM30 a trip as a lorry driver.

He also said Hadzarshah is supporting his wife, who earns an irregular income of RM30 to RM40 a day, as well as five schoolgoing children and his elderly parents.

Ahmad said Hadzarshah’s failure to attend court proceedings in May was because of health issues resulting from an accident he had suffered.

The court allowed bail at RM10,000 and ordered Hadzarshah to report to the nearest police station on the first day of each month until the case is concluded.

It also fixed Dec 4 for the next mention of the case.