KUALA LUMPUR: A college student who rammed his car into a traffic policeman said he panicked when another car suddenly entered his lane which led to the accident.
A video of the incident, which was caught on camera by a CCTV nearby, was widely shared on social media.
Yesterday, the Magistrate’s court sentenced Tan Wooi Zhan, 25, to three months’ jail and fined RM5,000 in default of three months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously.
The court also suspended his driving licence for three years. Tan was shaking and almost broke into tears when magistrate M. Saravanan meted out the sentence.
According to the charge, Tan had driven his car recklessly and dangerously leading to an accident with traffic policeman Mohamad Aniq Ariz Mohd Kassim who was on duty at the traffic light intersection of Jalan Hishamuddin, Dang Wangi, here at about 8am on April 2.
The offence under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries an imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and a fine of not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM15,000 and shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than two years and driving licence to be revoked, upon conviction.
In mitigation, Tan told the court that he did not knock into the policeman deliberately and immediately gave the victim first aid assistance when the incident happened.
“You could see in the video that I pulled the emergency break as soon as I saw the policeman in front of me. I checked him from head to toe twice as I’ve studied first aid before.
“I really had no intention (to harm) and am very sorry for the incident. I was trying to avoid a BMW car that suddenly entered my lane and then I panicked,” he said.
To this, the magistrate said based on the video, he could not see any car that the accused was trying to avoid.
Tan said the car was not on camera but there were witnesses who saw what he claimed.
He promised that he would not repeat his mistake.
“If I am found committing the offence again, I am prepared to accept the maximum punishment,” he said.
DPP Zuraidi Zulkifli urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to serve as a lesson for Tan.
“The accused was driving at a high speed and failed to observe the traffic lights. He then rammed into the policeman who was on duty to control the traffic,” he said.
Prior to sentencing, Saravanan said he had considered the fact that Tan did not run away after the incident and helped the victim.
However, he also took into account that Tan was driving at a high speed.
Tan was ordered to serve his jail term from yesterday.- Star
Post a Comment