KOTA KINABALU: Three men were slapped with a RM10,000 fine and jailed four days each by the Tawau Magistrate’s Court for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira handed the sentence to Zohan Zainal, 44, Adi Padri, 35, and Syed Ali Bakar Syed Sheh Alkaf, 32, who all pleaded guilty to the offence.
According to the charge sheet, Zohan and Adi, who is a foreigner, were accused of drink driving at Jalan Sim Hwa Seng between 12.20am and 1.05am on Sept 24.
Syed Ali was accused to have committed the offence at the same road but at 12.40am on July 23.
A breathalyser test on all three found the alcohol content in their blood over the permitted level of 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
They pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read in court on Wednesday (Oct 4).
They were charged under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which provides for a maximum two years’ jail and fine up to RM30,000.
The court also ordered for the accused to be jailed four months if they failed to settle the fine and for their driving licenses to be suspended for two years.
As for Adi, the court instructed the accused to be referred to the Tawau Immigration Department after completing his jail sentence.
Prosecuting officer Asst Supt Joan Lee appeared for the prosecution while the trip were not represented.
Lee had earlier urged the court to impose a heavy sentence as a deterrent for people to drive while being intoxicated.
She said it was also for the safety of the community, adding there has been an increase of drink driving cases in Tawau.
