MEDICAL INTERN fINED FOR DRUNK DRIVING, CURFEW breach
Amedical intern based at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital pleaded guilty to three charges and convicted with a fine of $2300 and a default imprisonment term of 230 days.
Jeremiah James Dreketirua, 25, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili.
He was charged with:
■ Dangerous driving,
■ Driving a motor vehicle while there was present in his blood a concentration of alcohol in excess of the prescribed limit and
■ Failure to comply with orders. He pleaded guilty to all three charges and was convicted accordingly.
Dreketirua paid his fine in full yesterday and his case was disposed off subsequently.
Ruling
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili told Dreketirua that he should have been aware of the dangers associated with the COVID-19 restrictions. The accused was also told that as a civil servant he should expect that his employment will be jeopardised as a result of his actions. In mitigation Dreketirua submitted that he was very remorseful for his poor decision making and apologised to the Police officers who wasted their time attending to his case.
The accused is a first offender and promised not to reappear in Court again.
He also told the Court of his willingness to pay a fine.
“The country is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures have been put in place by the Government to protect the public. These have been disregarded by the accused and a deterrent message needs to be sent to like minded offenders.”
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili sentenced Dreketirua to pay a fine of $500 for the first count of dangerous driving, $800 for driving under the influence of alcohol and $1000 for breaching curfew orders.
Particulars
On Tuesday night the accused drove a vehicle along Ratu Sukuna Road in Nasese with registration KG334 during curfew hours at 10pm when the vehicle veered off the road.
He was tested and 73 micrograms of alcohol was found in his blood. He was also ordered to surrender his licence to the court which was suspended for one year.