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Kota Kinabalu: A 25-year-old man was sentenced to a year’s jail and fined RM5,500, or six months’ jail, by the Traffic Court, here, Tuesday for driving recklessly.

Unemployed Zulkipli Mohammad Ali pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to committing the offence on Feb 13, this year, at 7.15am, near the Indah Permai flyover, Jalan Sepanggar, here.

The offence, under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, carries a jail term of up to five years and fine of between RM5,000 and RM15,000; the driving licence is endorsed by the court, and the individual is disqualified from holding a driving licence for not less than five years from the date of conviction, on conviction.

Traffic prosecuting officer Inspector Mohammad Khairul Nizam Mokhtar informed the court that on the said day, a road accident occurred at the location involving a Proton Wira driven by Zulkipli and a female pedestrian.

Investigations revealed that Zulkipli, who was driving on the left lane from Taman Bukit Setia towards Manggatal, had recklessly veered into the right lane to the flyover, and later struck pedestrian Lau Suat Eng, 75.

Counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, representing Zulkipli, requested a minimum fine and lenient jail sentence, considering that Zulkipli, who is married with two children, had lost his job due to the present case and is suffered from anxiety.

Lim also submitted that Zulkipli contacted the ambulance immediately after the incident and did not flee, demonstrating his responsibility as a civilian.

The prosecution applied for an appropriate sentence as a deterrent to prevent Zulkipli from committing a similar offence.

Nizam submitted that although Zulkipli drove recklessly and the incident involved a pedestrian, the negligence was not entirely his, but also due to the victim crossing the road at an inappropriate place, as evidenced by photographs and the sketch plan.

Magistrate Lovely ordered Zulkipli to serve his jail sentence from Tuesday and with additional orders that his conviction will be endorsed on his driving licence, and he is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for not less than five years from the date of conviction (Aug 6).