KULAI: A retiree with Singapore Permanent Resident status has been fined RM9,000 by a Magistrate's Court for tampering with his car registration plate in a bid to buy subsidised RON95 petrol.
Long Sa Kow, 64, arrived at court at 7.50am on Wednesday (Jan 14) wearing a cap and facemask.
He was accused of displaying a car registration number that did not belong to his silver German-made car at a petrol station in Batu 21/4, Jalan Johor Baru-Air Hitam here at about 10.30pm on Jan 2.
Long, who resides in Singapore, requested that the charge be read to him in English as he did not understand Bahasa Malaysia or Mandarin.
He then pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate R. Salini.
When the court interpreter read out the facts of the case, Long tried to intervene by questioning the details.
This led the magistrate to tell him off twice for disrupting the proceedings.
"Let the interpreter finish reading the facts first. Do not interrupt," she said.
After that, Long said he disagreed with the facts, at which time Salini called for a recess to give an explanation to the accused in English.
After a 30-minute recess, the court heard that Long had allegedly tampered with his car registration plate by concealing several letters with the intention to pump RON95, a subsidised fuel intended only for Malaysians.
His actions were caught in a video clip, which circulated on social media, leading police to investigate.
They later found that the vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers were registered in Singapore.
The offence, framed under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987, is punishable by a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000, or one to five years' jail, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Thiviya urged the court to impose a suitable sentence to send a cautionary message to the accused and others not to repeat such actions.
"The court should also consider the accused’s intention in changing his car registration number to enjoy the rights and privileges meant for locals and Malaysian-registered vehicles.
"This should serve as a lesson to all, and a reminder not to tamper with their car registration number as they please for personal gain," she said.
National Legal Aid Foundation counsel Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli, who represented Long, requested a lower fine as her client does not have a fixed income and is a retiree with three children.
The court ordered Long to pay a fine of RM9,000 in default nine months’ jail.
He paid the fine.
