College student gets three months in jail for ramming traffic policeman

KUALA LUMPUR: A college student who rammed his Mercedes Benz into a traffic policeman was sentenced by the magistrate's court to three months in jail and fined RM5,000 after he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously.

A video of the incident, which was caught on camera by a nearby CCTV, was widely shared on social media.

Magistrate M. Saravanan ordered Tan Wooi Zhan, 25, to serve another three months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

His driving licence is also suspended for three years.
According to the charge, Tan had drove his car recklessly and dangerously, ramming his vehicle into traffic policeman Mohamad Aniq Ariz Mohd Kassim, who was on duty at the traffic light intersection of Jalan Hishamuddin and Jalan Dang Wangi, here at 8.11am on April 2.
The offence under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carries an imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and a fine between RM5,000 and RM15,000.

It also disqualifies the offender from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than two years upon conviction.

During mitigation, Tan told the court that he did not intend to hit the policeman with his car and had immediately given the victim first aid assistance when the incident happened.

"You could see in the video that I pulled the emergency break as soon as I saw the police in front of me. I checked him from head to toe twice as I studied first aid before.

“I really had no intention and am very sorry for the incident. I was trying to avoid a car that suddenly entered my lane and then, I panicked," he said.

He promised that he would not repeat his mistake.

"If I was found committing the offence again, I am prepared to accept the maximum punishment,” he said.

DPP Zuraidi Zulkifli urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to give a lesson to the accused to be a reasonably prudent driver.

“The accused was driving at a high speed and failed to observe the traffic light. He then rammed into the policeman who was on duty to control the traffic,” DPP Zuraidi said.

Prior to sentencing, Saravanan said he had considered the reaction of the accused who did not run away after the incident and helped the victim.

However, he also took into consideration that the accused was driving at a high speed leading the victim to sustain injuries.

Tan was ordered to serve his jail term from the date of sentencing.- Star