'But that evening, he asked me to drink with him, saying that he had already bought the drink and prepared two cups for us. How could I say no?'
After several drinks, they drove to Serangoon Road in the Civic.
He said: 'I do not know how long we spent there, but time flew. We had a meal and a few more drinks and soon it was time for me to drive Muhammad Habibullah back to the fire station.
'His uniform was in my car. As we walked to the car, he kept asking me to let him drive the car but I told him that he was too tipsy.'
Mohamed Basheer said that while he was driving, his friend rolled down the window on his side and occasionally waved his hand outside.
He said: 'I was driving at 120kmh. Near Shenton Way, Muhammad Habibullah suddenly unbuckled his seat belt and tried to take over the steering wheel.
'I pushed him away but the steering wheel moved to the right and I lost control of the car.'
The next thing Mohamed Basheer knew was the car hitting the centre guard rail of the AYE and Muhammad Habibullah's body flying out onto the road.
The impact caused the car to spin a few times at the centre lane, then veer and hit the left wall of the expressway before stopping near the centre lane.
He said: 'I still have nightmares of the accident. I still see my friend's mangled and bleeding body on the road.
'I had to attend counselling sessions at the SAF Counselling Centre after the accident.'
Forgiven by victim's family
Mohamed Basheer said his friend's family had forgiven him for what happened but the mother is still distraught.
His friend's father, Mr Mohd Haniffa, told The New Paper a few days after the accident: 'Everyone makes mistakes in life. Though this was a big mistake, I bear no grudges against him.'
Mohamed Bashir said he had also stopped drinking alcohol.
He said: 'His father said it was not my fault, that what happened was fated. But his wife cries when she sees me as I remind her of her dead son.
'Muhammad Habibullah's birthday (Jul 3) and Hari Raya Puasa have since passed, and it has been very hard for them to celebrate without him around.
'Since the accident, I have tried to avoid the site where it happened but I had to pass the site twice this year. When I passed it, I closed my eyes and moved on.'
Mohamed Basheer said he visits a mosque near Keppel Road every Friday to offer prayers for his dead friend. He said: 'Since the accident, I have grown closer to my family and we have shared a lot about the accident. My parents have also been supportive.
'Thanks to their support and prayers, I am prepared for whatever sentence the court gives me. After I serve my sentence, I plan to further my studies and move on with my life.
'But I will always remember how my close friend lost his life.'
