Ex-JPJ deputy D-G to be charged again

PETALING

JAYA: Former Road Transport Department (JPJ) deputy director-general Datuk Yusoff Ayob will be charged again at the Putrajaya magistrate’s court today for driving on the emergency lane.

This follows comments from Chief Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, who said the case would be sent back to the court because Yusoff did not turn up for his hearing and instead sent his special officer to plead guilty on his behalf.

On July 18, Yusoff was fined RM600 by a magistrate’s court for driving on the emergency lane in Lingkaran Putrajaya, Putrajaya, at 6.27pm on Oct 7 last year.

Yusoff, 58, was charged under Rule 53(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.

The offence is punishable under Section 119(1)(c) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and carries a fine of up to RM2,000, imprisonment of up to six months or both, if found guilty.

Yusoff was transferred from JPJ to the Public Service Department (PSD) with effect from last Saturday.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi confirmed that Yusoff and JPJ enforcement director Datuk V. Valluvan were transferred to the PSD.

Abdul Aziz told a Malay daily that both officers were still serving in the Government and the transfer was according to civil service procedure.

He said the transfers were made by the PSD and the ministry respected the decision.

Abdul Aziz also urged people not to speculate on the transfers.

JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Nadzri Siron, when asked to comment on the transfers, said: “Transfers are under PSD.”

On July 13, three JPJ enforcement officers from the department’s Special Action Team allegedly broke into the director-general’s office.

They are said to have entered Nadzri’s office at the JPJ headquarters in Putrajaya.

The three suspects were detained by the police and later released on bail.

Nadzri had also reportedly said that the operations of the Special Action Team were suspended for the time being.