JAIL, FINE FOR RAMMING COP
College student sorry for ploughing car into traffic cop on Tuesday
A25-year old college student, who ploughed his Mercedes-Benz car into a traffic police officer who was on duty three days ago, said he panicked when another car suddenly entered his lane, leading to the accident.
A video of the incident, which was recorded by a surveillance camera, has been shared on social media.
Tan Wooi Zhan, who faced a charge at the magistrate’s court with driving dangerously leading to the accident, was sentenced to three months’ jail and fined RM5,000 after he pleaded guilty.
The court suspended his driving licence for three years.
Tan was shaking and almost broke into tears when magistrate M. Saravanan meted out the sentence yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, Tan had driven his MercedesBenz car recklessly and dangerously, leading to an accident with traffic policeman Mohamad Aniq Ariz Mohd Kassim, who was on duty at the traffic light intersection of Jalan Hishamuddin, Dang Wangi, here, at 8.11am on Tuesday.
The offence under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries a maximum penalty of five years’ jail and RM15,000 fine.
In pleading for leniency, Tan told the court that he had no intention of hitting the policeman and immediately gave the victim first aid.
“I had no intention and am very sorry for the incident. I was trying to avoid a BMW car that suddenly entered my lane and I panicked,” he said. He promised to never drive recklessly.
Deputy public prosecutor Zuraidi Zulkifli urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to serve as a lesson to the accused and that he would be a prudent driver.
Saravanan, in sentencing, said he had considered the reaction of the accused, who did not run away after the incident and helped the victim.
He said he also took into consideration that the accused was driving at a high speed leading the victim to sustain injuries.
Tan was ordered to serve his jail term from yesterday.
The court ordered the accused to serve three months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.