JOHOR BARU: A restaurant worker was sentenced to 10 days' jail and fined RM10,000 by the magistrate's court today for reckless and dangerous driving on Friday (Dec 27).
Magistrate Mohammad Izham Mohd Aliyas delivered the sentence after the accused, Muhammad Syafiq Jefri, 28, pleaded guilty to the charge. Syafiq will serve an additional seven months' jail if the fine is not paid.
According to the charge sheet, Syafiq, who was driving his Proton Saga, was allegedly accused of performing illegal U-turns, driving against traffic, and running red lights at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam at 3.45am on Dec 27. He was charged under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
In mitigation, the unrepresented accused pleaded for leniency, citing his recent employment and his wife's pregnancy.
However, Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department officer Inspector S. Vikineswary argued that Syafiq's actions were not only reckless but posed significant risks to public safety.
"The accused performed illegal U-turns in prohibited zones, drove against the flow of traffic to evade a police roadblock, zig-zagged through vehicles and ignored traffic lights," she told the court.
In addition to jail time and fine, the court also ordered Syafiq's driver's licence be endorsed and suspended for five years. If he holds a probationary licence, it will be revoked.