KOTA KINABALU: A local chauffeur was sentenced to three years’ jail and RM8,000 fine by the magistrates’ court here yesterday for driving while under the influence of alcohol and causing the death of a Singaporean woman.
Magistrate Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim imposed the sentence on Umri Umar Siddik, 30, after he pleaded guilty to driving a car with an alcohol level of 206mg in his blood and which had exceeded the permitted level of 80mg in every 100ml blood.
The accused also admitted to be involved in an accident that caused the death of a taxi passenger Teo Poh Suan, 42, at a traffic light near a hotel at Jalan Coastal here on May 16.
The offence under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 is punishable by a jail term of not less than three years and not more than 10 years and a fine of between RM8,000 and RM20,000, on conviction.
In passing sentence, the court also ordered Umri to be jailed for 12 months if he failed to pay the fine and would also lose the eligibility to possess and apply for a driving license for five years.
Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Wilynton Enchana Watt told the court that investigation showed that Umri, who was drunk at that time, was on his way from Kota Kinabalu to Putatan before colliding with the taxi.
The accident between the two vehicles caused the death of the taxi passenger, Wilynton added.
In mitigation, Umri pleaded for a lenient sentence and admitted that he had committed a serious crime.
Wilynton applied for a deterrent sentence to be imposed on Umri and such punishment would serve as a lesson to would-be offenders in the future.