KULAI: A retiree with Singapore permanent resident status was fined RM9,000 by the Magistrate’s Court here for partially concealing his foreign-registered car number plate in a bid to pump subsidised RON95 petrol.
Long Sa Kow, 64, pleaded guilty to 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.
When the court interpreter had read the statement of the facts, Long tried to intervene several times by questioning the details.
This led magistrate R. Salini 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 disagreed with the facts and Salini called for a recess to give an explanation to the accused in English.
Following a 30-minute recess, the court heard that Long 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 on a video clip, which circulated on social media, spurring the police to investigate.
Police later found that the vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers were registered in Singapore.
The offence under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987 is punishable with a fine of RM5,000-RM20,000, imprisonment of between one and five years or both, upon conviction.
Long pleaded guilty and told the court he agreed with the facts.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Thiviya urged the court to impose a suitable sentence to send a cautionary message to the accused and the public.
“The court should also consider the accused’s intention in concealing 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 added.
National Legal Aid Foundation counsel Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli, who represented Long, asked for 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.
