Lorry driver in Karpal Singh crash tested positive for drugs: Report

Malaysian member of Parliament and veteran Democratic Action Party leader Karpal Singh's Toyota Alphard involved in an accident early on April 17, 2014. -- PHOTO: THE STAR PUBLICATION
Malaysian member of Parliament and veteran Democratic Action Party leader Karpal Singh's Toyota Alphard involved in an accident early on April 17, 2014. -- PHOTO: THE STAR PUBLICATION
Malaysian opposition veteran and lawyer Karpal Singh (centre) leaves a court room on his wheel chair in Kuala Lumpur on March 17, 2008. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP 
Malaysian opposition veteran and lawyer Karpal Singh (centre) leaves a court room on his wheel chair in Kuala Lumpur on March 17, 2008. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP 

KUALA LUMPUR - Traces of cannabis have been found in the urine sample of the lorry driver whose vehicle was involved in a collision with the car that veteran politician Karpal Singh was travelling in, Malaysian media reported.

Mr Karpal, 73, Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor and veteran Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader, died in the crash on the North-South Highway near Gua Tempurung, Perak, early on Thursday morning.

Perak police chief Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani told The Malaysian Insider that the initial urine screening of the 45-year-old lorry driver revealed traces of cannabis.

"We have sent the urine sample to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for confirmation," Mr Acryl said.

The Malaysian insider also learnt that initial checks revealed that Mr Karpal's driver is believed to have 15 outstanding traffic summonses for speeding.

Checks on the Toyota Alphard Mr Karpal was travelling in revealed that a total of 29 traffic summonses had been issued, of which 15 had not been settled.

Mr Acryl said this was the result of initial checks and investigations which were conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

There were five people in the Toyota Alphard multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and three in the five-ton Mitsubishi Canter lorry.

The five in the MPV were Mr Karpal, his son Ramkarpal, his personal assistant Michael Cornelius, an Indonesian maid and driver C. Selvam.

In the lorry, besides the driver, there was a woman, Nur Azlina Ahmad, 23, and a four-year-old girl Nurieman Diana Qhaleesha Abdullah.

Both Mr Karpal and Mr Michael were believed to have died at the scene following the collision while the maid suffered severe injuries.

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