KUALA LUMPUR: An e-hailing driver, who was driving against the traffic in Old Klang Road recently, has been slapped with a three-month jail term by the High Court instead of the initial three days.
High Court judge Justice Aslam Zainuddin ordered Wong Kok Kong, 32, to serve the additional sentence starting on the date of sentencing.
“Other sentences by the Magistrate’s Court, a RM6,000 fine and the revocation of driving licence for five years, are maintained,” the judge said when varying the sentence yesterday after exercising his revisionary powers.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Nordin Ismail sought a heavier sentence for Wong in the revision proceedings to serve as a lesson for the public to respect the Road Transport Act 1987.
“I believe the (three-day jail) sentence was insufficient, and I seek for the jail term to be increased so that the public would be aware and respect the law when it comes to driving on busy streets in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
The Kuala Lumpur prosecution director said Wong was lucid during the incident and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Lawyer K. Gejalaxmi, who represented Wong, however, said the Magistrate’s Court had meted out a fair sentence, as her client’s guilty plea had saved the court’s time.
“My client has served the three days and paid the fine. A longer custodial sentence would be detrimental as he is the sole breadwinner who has to support his sick father,” she added.
On April 6, Wong pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to reckless and dangerous driving after he drove against the traffic flow along Old Klang Road.
He was charged under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
