Ex-JPJ No. 2 denies charge now

PUTRAJAYA: Everything starts afresh for former Road Transport Department (JPJ) deputy director-general Datuk Yusoff Ayob, who is facing court action for driving on the emergency lane in Putrajaya last year.

He is now facing the charge before a new magistrate, after he was refunded the RM600 fine he paid after pleading guilty to the offence before magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Ab Rahman through a representative on July 18.

Yesterday, Yusoff claimed trial before magistrate Syahrul Sazly Md Sain to driving on the emergency lane at Lingkaran Putrajaya here on Oct 7, last year.

His case was sent back to the magistrate’s court following a revision by a High Court after Yusoff, 58, did not turn up in court for the hearing on July 18. Instead, he had sent his special officer to plead guilty on his behalf, and was fined RM600. The fine was paid.

Clad in a dark blue suit, Yusoff was in court yesterday, accompanied by his family members and counsel Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu.

Yusoff, who was driving a vehicle with registration number BLY 68 when he allegedly committed the offence, pleaded not guilty to the offence under Rule 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, which is punishable with a fine of not more than RM2,000 or not more than six months’ jail on conviction.

During the proceedings, Baljit informed the court that he wanted to send a letter of representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and asked the court for the next mention date.

He also applied for all documents relating to the case to be supplied to him under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Izzat Fauzan then said he needed one month to obtain feedback on the letter of representation and would submit the documents before trial.

Magistrate Syahrul Sazly fixed Aug 21 for mention.

When met after the proceedings, Baljit said that his client, who has been transferred to the Public Service Department, did not get proper legal advice previously.

On Friday, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judicial Commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman exercised his revisionary power and reviewed the case.

Ab Karim set aside Yusoff’s guilty plea and fine meted out against him, and ordered the matter to be sent back before a new magistrate for Yusoff to be recharged, and instructed him to enter his plea personally.