Student fined RM4,000 for driving without due care

KOTA KINABALU: A student was fined RM4,000, in default, three months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for driving his vehicle carelessly.

Abdul Rahman Handra, 25, who appeared before magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

The charge carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and also liable to a jail term of up to 12 months upon conviction.

He had driven a Proton Saga car on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) at 10.30am on April 23, 2014.

In mitigation, counsel Goldam Hamid, who represented Abdul Rahman, prayed for a lenient fine to be imposed against his client on the grounds that the firsttime offender is still looking for a permanent job and had paid the repair cost of a motorcycle amounting to RM800.

Based on the facts of the case, Abdul Rahman, who was late for a class, was driving a Proton Saga from Kampung AB in UMS.

Then an accident happened between Abdul Rahman’s vehicle and a motorcycle as he had driven without giving way to the road user on a straight road.

The accident caused the motorcyclist to be badly injured and sustained a broken left leg.

Meanwhile, the same court fined five men RM2,200, in default, three months’ jail each for driving their vehicles under the influence of alcohol.

All of the accused persons pleaded guilty before the magistrate to each of their charges under Section 45A (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum fine of RM6,000 and also liable to a maximum jail term of 12 months, on conviction.

They were caught committing the offence during separate operations along Jalan Coastal here between February 7 and 27.