NINE individuals, including a woman, were among the first in the country to be charged in the magistrates’ court in Johor Baru today under the newly gazetted Road Transport Act (Amendment) 2020, which came into force last Friday. 

All the accused, aged between 25 and 55, were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol exceeding the permitted limit of 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, around Johor Baru between October 23 and 25.

Eight of them, including the woman, pleaded guilty while another man claimed trial after the charges were read out before magistrate Nur Asidah A. Rahman. 

All were charged under Section 45A (1) of the Act, which carries a jail term of up to two years, a maximum fine of RM30,000 and having their licence revoked for two years or more.

Asidah sentenced each of the eight accused to seven days’ jail from today and a fine of RM10,000 each or 10 months’ jail if they fail to pay the fine.

The court also ordered their driving licences to be suspended for two years.

For the accused who claimed trial, the court allowed bail at RM13,000 and fixed November 26 for mention.

Earlier, Traffic prosecuting officer assistant superintendent Azmi Abdul Salam requested the court impose heavy punishment on such offenders as a deterrent.

All the accused were unrepresented. – Bernama, October 26, 2020.