College student jailed, fined for riding motorcycle recklessly, without licence

KOTA KINABALU: A college student was sentenced to one year in jail and fined RM5,700 by the Traffic Court here for riding a motorcycle recklessly, ignoring a red traffic light signal and riding a motorcycle without a valid licence.

Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus meted the sentences on Mohammad Azimin Simin, 21, after he pleaded guilty as charged under Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 on the first count and under Section 26 (1), punishable under Section 26 (2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 on the second count.

On the first count, the unrepresented accused was sentenced to one year in jail and fined RM5,000, in default, one year imprisonment for riding a motorcycle recklessly and ignoring a red traffic light signal that could pose a danger to other road users near the traffic lights junction in Putatan along the Papar-Kota Kinabalu road on August 5.

On the second count, he was fined another RM700, in default, one month jail for riding a motorcycle without a valid licence in front of a restaurant in Putatan on the same day.

The facts of the case stated that police personnel, who were conducting an operation dubbed as Ops Samseng had noticed the antics on the motorcycle by the accused and tailed him. The accused was found to have committed the said dangerous acts and ignored the red traffic light signal while indulging in illegal racing at that time.

In mitigation, the accused pleaded for a lenient sentence on the grounds that he is still studying and had no previous convictions.

In reply, traffic prosecuting officer, Inspector Mohd Firdaus Che Mustafa, urged court to impose an appropriate sentence on the accused.