TAWAU: A businessman was fined a total of RM12,300 by the Magistrate’s Court here on Wednesday for four traffic offences, including failing to report an accident within 24 hours.
Chung Chi Fui, 24, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin to committing the offences at Jalan Chong Thien Vun at 3.30am on June 28 this year.
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For driving without due care and attention and crashing into an electricity pole, Chung was fined RM7,500 or three months’ jail.
The conviction was also endorsed on his driving licence.
He was fined RM2,000 or one month’s jail each for failing to stop after the accident and failing to report the accident within 24 hours.
For driving a vehicle with an expired Motor Vehicle Licence (LKM), he was fined RM800 or three days’ jail.
Chung paid all the fines.
He was charged under Section 43(1), Sections 52(1) and 52(2), and Section 23(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
In mitigation, Chung requested the minimum fine, saying he was facing financial difficulties and promised not to repeat the offences.
Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division prosecuting officer ASP Joan Lee urged the court to impose a heavier sentence as a lesson to Chung and as a deterrent to others.
She submitted that Chung deliberately failed to lodge a police report on the day of the accident because he feared being investigated and subjected to a breathalyser test as he was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
She said the accident had gone viral on Facebook on the same day, but Chung did not come forward voluntarily to lodge a report, making investigations more difficult.
Instead, he only reported to the Tawau District Police Headquarters Traffic Office after he was traced and instructed to do so by the investigating officer.
