A former express bus driver and his girlfriend have been sentenced to one year and six months in jail each after a viral video showed the woman sitting on his lap while he was driving along the North-South Expressway (PLUS).
Dangerous behavior caught on viral video leads to jail time
The court ruled that the pair’s actions were highly dangerous and showed blatant disregard for road safety, especially when the vehicle was in motion at the time of the incident.
The former bus driver, Arif Fahmi Abd Salam (36 years old) received a one‑year jail term while Nur Adila Najwa Ilham Ameerrullah (21 years old) was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with both also fined RM5,000.
The case was prosecuted under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which covers reckless and dangerous driving that endangers other road users.
Accused plead for leniency over first offence
According to Malay Mail, the former bus driver and his girlfriend, both unrepresented in court, asked for leniency, saying this was their first offence and no accident occurred, with all passengers safely reaching their destination.
Arif Fahmi said he had already been dismissed from his job following the viral incident, leaving him without income to support his mother, who has hypertension, and his two younger siblings. He also said he is required to attend further interviews with JPJ and APAD over the case.
Nur Adila Najwa, speaking tearfully, asked for a lighter sentence, saying she is only 21 and hopes to continue her studies. She shared that she scored 8As and 2Bs in SPM, but had to forgo further education due to financial difficulties. After her grandmother passed away, she moved to Kuala Lumpur to work and now hopes to resume her studies.
Prosecution calls for deterrent sentence
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Asri Abd Rahman Noor Syazwani Mohamad Yusri urged the court to impose a strong deterrent sentence, stressing the seriousness of the case and the need to protect public interest.
They pointed out that the criminal activity caused grave public concern since safety was ignored during the transport of 27 people.
Follow Wah Piang for more.
