Latest news with #ChewAhSing
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Lorryman fined RM6,000 over infrastructure damage
JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver was fined RM6,000 by the Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to reckless driving that resulted in significant damage to public infrastructure. Chew Ah Sing, 69, was charged with driving negligently along KM30.7 of Jalan Johor Baru-Gelang Patah-Pendas at about 3.20pm on June 10. According to the charge sheet, he drove the lorry without lowering the raised tipper bucket, causing it to strike overhead electrical cables and damage three electric poles, a traffic light pole, a CCTV and a bus stand. The offence was framed under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which is punishable with a jail term not exceeding 12 months and a fine of RM5,000 to RM10,000, upon conviction. Chew pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him in Mandarin. He was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli, who asked the court for a lower fine. 'He is supporting his wife and a child who is still studying,' she said, adding that it was also his first offence. Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid imposed the fine in default of four months' jail and ordered that his driving licence be suspended.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lorry driver fined RM6,000 for reckless driving, causing property damage
JOHOR BARU: A sand lorry driver was fined RM6,000 after pleading guilty in the Johor Baru magistrate's court today to driving recklessly and causing damage to several public properties along Jalan Johor Baru–Gelang Patah Pendas, in Iskandar Puteri, last Tuesday. The accused, Chew Ah Sing, 69, entered the plea before Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid after the charge was read out in Mandarin by the court interpreter. According to the charge sheet, Chew had driven the sand lorry on a public road without due care and attention, with the rear bucket left raised, causing it to strike overhead electrical cables. The incident resulted in damage to the cables, three electricity poles, a traffic light pole, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, and a bus stop. The offence was committed at Kilometre 30.7 of Jalan Johor Baru–Gelang Patah Pendas at around 3.20pm on June 10. The charge was framed under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Amendment 2020), which carries a penalty of up to 12 months' imprisonment and a fine of not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM10,000. For a second or subsequent offence, the punishment may include up to 12 months' imprisonment and a fine of not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM15,000. In such cases, the offender's driving licence will be endorsed by the court, and a probationary licence may be revoked upon conviction. Deputy Public Prosecutor Amirah Tasnim Saleh prosecuted the case. In mitigation, the senior citizen, represented by lawyer Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), pleaded for a minimum sentence, citing his monthly income of RM2,000 and financial responsibility for his wife, mother, and school-going child. However, Amirah Tasnim urged the court to impose a fitting sentence, as the accused's actions had caused damage to multiple public properties. The court imposed a RM6,000 fine, in default four months' imprisonment, and endorsed Chew's driving licence. On the day of the incident, media reports stated that a sand lorry with its rear bucket still raised struck overhead power lines, causing three electric poles to fall near a school. A video of the incident, recorded around 3.20pm and widely shared on social media, showed the lorry hitting the cables before the poles came crashing down. Iskandar Puteri district police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Kumarasan was quoted as saying that the driver claimed he was unaware that the rear bucket had not been lowered.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Did a lorry's raised tipper bucket damage public infrastructure in Johor?
WITH heavy vehicles making headlines all too often of late, netizens were aghast when a viral video clip earlier this week showed a lorry being driven around with a raised tipper bucket. It was said that the raised tipper damaged several pieces of public infrastructure, including electrical poles, a traffic light and a bus stand. It was claimed that the incident occurred in the Johor Baru district. Did this happen as claimed? VERDICT: TRUE A 69-year-old lorry driver was fined RM6,000 by a Johor Baru Magistrate's Court on Friday (June 13) for reckless driving that resulted in significant damage to public infrastructure. Chew Ah Sing was charged with driving negligently along KM30.7 of Jalan Johor Baru-Gelang Patah-Pendas at 3.20pm on Tuesday (June 10). According to the charge sheet, he drove his lorry without lowering the raised tipper bucket, causing it to strike overhead electrical cables and damage three electrical poles, a traffic light, a CCTV and a bus stand. The offence under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 was punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or a fine of RM5,000 to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction. Chew pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him in Mandarin by the court translator. His lawyer, Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli from the National Legal Aid Foundation, asked the court for a lower fine, saying the accused was supporting his wife and a child still in school. She added that it was also his first offence. Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid fined him RM6,000, in default four months' imprisonment, and ordered that his driving licence be endorsed. Footage of the incident went viral on social media on Tuesday.
