KOTA KINABALU: Three men were fined RM10,000 and sentenced to four days in jail each by the Tawau Magistrate’s Court after they were caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira handed down the sentence to Zohan Zainal, 44, Adi Padri, 35, and Syed Ali Bakar Syed Sheh Alkaf, 32, after all three pleaded guilty to the offense. The charge sheet states that Zohan and Adi, a foreigner, were accused of drink driving on Jalan Sim Hwa Seng between 12.20am and 1.05am on Sept 24. Syed Ali, on the other hand, committed the offense on the same road at 12.40am on July 23. A breathalyzer test conducted on all three individuals revealed that the alcohol content in their blood was above the permitted level of 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The accused entered their guilty pleas during their court appearance on Wednesday (Oct 4). They were charged under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM30,000. In addition to the fine, the court also ordered a four-month jail term for the accused if they fail to settle the fine and suspended their driving licenses for two years. As for Adi, the court instructed that he be referred to the Tawau Immigration Department after serving his jail sentence. Prosecuting officer Asst Supt Joan Lee represented the prosecution, while the defendants were unrepresented. Lee urged the court to impose a severe sentence to deter others from driving while intoxicated and ensure the safety of the community given the rise in drink driving cases in Tawau.
