SBS driver jumps bail

An SBS Transit bus driver accused of negligent driving, which resulted in 23 passengers getting hurt, failed to appear at his hearing in court yesterday.

A warrant of arrest was issued for Ahmad Jamalulail Abdul Rashid, 43, a Malaysian national.

Jamalulail is accused of failing to keep a proper lookout while driving an SBS bus along Sims Avenue at about 5.25pm on July 11, 2014.

As a result, the vehicle hit the rear of another SBS bus that had slowed down because of road works ahead.

Two passengers suffered grievous injuries. Jaswinder Singh, 18, had a nasal fracture and Mr Lee Joo Long, 58, suffered injuries to his spine, court papers said.

Twenty-one other passengers, aged between 16 and 79, were also hurt.

Jamalulail was charged with one count of causing grievous hurt to Mr Lee and Mr Singh by a negligent act and one count of endangering the lives of the other 21 passengers by a negligent act.

He was granted $5,000 bail and was supposed to turn up at the State Courts yesterday.

But defence lawyer Amarick Gill told the court he had been unable to contact Jamalulail since March and later discharged himself.

Jamalulail's bailor, who identified herself as his former colleague, was ordered to attend a show-cause hearing next month.

She told the court she has since filed a police report.

If convicted, Jamalulail faces up to two years' jail and a fine of up to $5,000 for causing grievous hurt by a negligent act.

For endangering human life by a negligent act, he could be jailed up to six months and fined up to $2,500.