Viral 'squeeze' Volkswagen driver charged over highway crash

BATU PAHAT: A businessman whose highway "squeeze" manoeuvre between a lorry and a jeep went viral after a crash earlier this month was charged in the magistrate's court here today with reckless driving.

Muhammad Arif Nokaiah Abdullah, 38, pleaded not guilty after the charge under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 was read before magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno.

He was charged with driving a Volkswagen Passat recklessly and dangerously at Km91.6 of the North-South Expressway, northbound, near Ayer Hitam, at 5.30pm on Oct 1.

The offence carries a maximum five-year jail term and a fine of at least RM5,000, as well as revocation of his driving licence.

The crash involved four vehicles and occurred after the Passat overtook by squeezing between a lorry and a jeep travelling in the left and right lanes.

The Volkswagen driver was allegedly travelling at high speed and suddenly appeared between the two vehicles before losing control, skidding and spinning.

A Proton Persona travelling behind could not avoid the debris scattered across the road and crashed into it.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Shahzleen Ibrahim prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer Normaahani Rais from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

The court granted the accused RM4,000 bail and fixed Dec 11 for mention.