blackknight88
Well-Known Member
Off-peak car owner fined $130,000
A MAN was fined $130,000 in what was believed to be one of the biggest fines levied against an off-peak car offender, a Straits Times report said.
Johnson Fok Jun Hong pleaded guilty to driving his Subaru Impreza 26 times last year without a valid supplementary licence. Eight of the offences happened on Dec 2 alone.
The prosecution had argued that Fok's latest violations were committed after the Land Transport Authority introduced the e-Day Licence system on Nov 23, 2009, to replace the physical coupon system.
The e-Day scheme made it easier for motorists to buy their supplementary licences. They can buy them 2 days after using their weekend cars at more outlets such as SingPost branches and AXS stations. Each supplementary licence costs $20.
Fok pleaded for leniency and said that he had been an Institute of Mental Health patient since 2006, and therefore, did not recall things that he did.
But District Judge Salina Ishak said his IMH report did not show any links between his mental condition and the commission of the offences.
The judge also said that the timing and location of several violations indicated "some degree of regularity". "It can be inferred that these trips were not made by someone who was driving aimlessly…"
Fok must serve 130 days in jail if he cannot pay the $130,000 fine. He has filed an appeal.
As a serial offender, Fok could have been fined up to $10,000 for each offence.
A MAN was fined $130,000 in what was believed to be one of the biggest fines levied against an off-peak car offender, a Straits Times report said.
Johnson Fok Jun Hong pleaded guilty to driving his Subaru Impreza 26 times last year without a valid supplementary licence. Eight of the offences happened on Dec 2 alone.
The prosecution had argued that Fok's latest violations were committed after the Land Transport Authority introduced the e-Day Licence system on Nov 23, 2009, to replace the physical coupon system.
The e-Day scheme made it easier for motorists to buy their supplementary licences. They can buy them 2 days after using their weekend cars at more outlets such as SingPost branches and AXS stations. Each supplementary licence costs $20.
Fok pleaded for leniency and said that he had been an Institute of Mental Health patient since 2006, and therefore, did not recall things that he did.
But District Judge Salina Ishak said his IMH report did not show any links between his mental condition and the commission of the offences.
The judge also said that the timing and location of several violations indicated "some degree of regularity". "It can be inferred that these trips were not made by someone who was driving aimlessly…"
Fok must serve 130 days in jail if he cannot pay the $130,000 fine. He has filed an appeal.
As a serial offender, Fok could have been fined up to $10,000 for each offence.
