a day ago
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.
