A Chinese national who is a company director was fined RM10,000 by the Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving against traffic, which led to an accident last Sunday.
The accused, Lu Xun, 55, who has lived in Malaysia for about 30 years, entered his plea after the charge was read in Mandarin before Magistrate Muhammad Syaiful Akmal Mohamad Razi.
The court also ordered a 12-month jail term in default of payment and suspended his driving licence for two years.
According to the charge, Lu drove dangerously by entering the opposite lane before colliding with another vehicle along Jalan Lencongan Barat, Kuala Muda, at around 9.20pm.
The offence was framed under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a maximum fine of RM15,000, imprisonment of up to five years, and disqualification from holding a driving licence for at least two years upon conviction.
Earlier in court, the accused, who appeared in a wheelchair, was seen to be emotionally distressed and was calmed by his daughter.
In mitigation, defence counsel Chong Sen Ming sought a lighter sentence, citing the accused’s medical conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as his responsibility to support his family.
He said the accused is married to a local woman and has a 20-year-old daughter currently studying at a private higher education institution in Penang.
The lawyer added that the accused was admitted to the hospital’s emergency red zone after the incident and had expressed remorse, apologising to the court, police and the other party involved.
He also noted that no injuries were reported and that the accused was willing to bear the cost of damages. A lighter fine was requested to allow him to continue managing his plastic factory investment business.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Hazwani Mohd Noor urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, stressing that the accused’s actions endangered public safety despite no fatalities being reported.
Lu later paid the fine at the Sungai Petani Court Complex.
The case previously drew attention after reports emerged of a Chinese man driving against traffic for about 500 metres before crashing into a Proton Saga in Bandar Laguna Merbok. Police investigations also indicated that the accused was believed to have been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time.
