Motorist fined RM5,000 for reckless driving

KOTA KINABALU: The Traffic Court here on Wednesday fined a motorist RM5,000, in default, 10 months’ jail for reckless driving which resulted in an accident three years ago.

Magistrate Wan Farrah Farizza Wan Ghazali imposed the fine on Chong Li Ying, 30, after the latter pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

The offence provides for a fine of up to RM10,000 and also liable to a jail term of up to 12 months, upon conviction.

Chong admitted to committing the offence at Jalan Kepayan Kobusak on May 28, 2021.

The court also ordered for her driving license to be endorsed with the conviction.

In mitigation, the unrepresented Chong prayed for a lenient sentence.

She explained that this was not a hit-and-run accident as she was never running away from it and this was her first accident and offence.

Chong also said that her parents had already retired and she still has hire purchase loan. Apart from that she had cooperated well with the police for this case.

In reply, traffic prosecuting officer Firdaus Che Mustafa urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence against Chong and he confirmed that the accused had no previous conviction.

In a separate case, a 37-yearold man claimed trial in the same court here to a charge of driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner and allegedly resulted in the death of a motorcyclist and his pillion rider.

Chau Kim Chai was accused of committing the offence at Jalan Noosob Hungab in Penampang at 2.50pm on April 3, 2020.

The court fixed March 25 for case management and Chau, who was represented by counsel Luke Ressa Balang, was released on a bail of RM1,500 with one local surety.