TAWAU: A 54-year-old man was jailed four months and fined RM5,500 or spend another six months’ jail for drink-driving.
Chiang Sien Chai pleaded guilty before High Court Deputy Registrar Amir Shah Amir Hamzah to driving under the influence of alcohol along Jalan Kubota, here at 12.40am on Aug 31, this year.
The offence under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries a fine of between RM1,000 and RM10,000, or a jail term of up to a year, on conviction.
Earlier, Traffic Prosecuting Officer, ASP Joan Lee urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence on Chiang to teach him as well as a lesson to the public.
She submitted that on August 31, the government had just announced that the Restoration Movement Control Order (RMCO) was extended until December this year and that last week two drunk drivers were jailed and fined for the same offense,
In passing the sentence, Amir Shah said the court agreed with the prosecution and hoped that the amendment to Section 54A (1) of the Road Transport Act for heavier punishment for drunk drivers would be expedited in order to teach a lesson against offenders.
“For the accused in this case, as an elderly person, you should think rationally and to avoid from comitting similar offence,” he said.
Meanwhile, two men were fined RM500 or 21 days’ jail each for driving their vehicles without licences.
Suharmin Samsuri, 22, and Mohd Khairul Mohd Salleh, 20, had separately committed the offence along Jalan Persisiran and Jalan Tawau on July 2 and Aug 10 this year.
