NIBONG TEBAL: A lorry driver who rammed his tipper truck into 18 cars near the Taman Berjaya market here has claimed trial to a charge of reckless driving at a magistrate’s court here.

G. Mathan, 30, from Kampung Ladang Transkrian pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without a valid driving licence and under the influence of alcohol.

The offence under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and a maximum jail term of one year if convicted.

Magistrate Rashidah Baharom set RM8,000 bail and March 22 for handing in of documents and for the accused to appoint a lawyer.

Mathan appeared calm when he was brought to the magistrate’s court in Jawi here in a police car Tuesday morning.

On Sunday, market-goers at the Taman Berjaya market were shocked to find their cars dented and damaged after Mathan drove his lorry into the cars which had blocked his path.

Mathan had fled the scene but his lorry was later discovered near a banana plantation not far away.

He surrendered to the police at the district’s police headquarters in Jawi on Sunday night.-thestar