By Our Reporter
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities continued their crackdown on traffic offences and financial irregularities after seven individuals were penalised by the courts here on Wednesday for separate offences involving drink driving and unexplained cash deposits.
Five motorists were sentenced to one day’s imprisonment and fined RM10,000 each after admitting to driving under the influence of alcohol in incidents that occurred in Penampang earlier this year.
The offenders — Arwinah Makrun, 29, Ezequel Irwin, 33, Olfen Ng, 29, Cylister Michael, 35, and Audreco Voo, 22 — pleaded guilty before Traffic Court Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin.
In addition to the fines and jail terms, the court ordered all five to be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for two years from the date of conviction.
The offences took place during early morning hours in May, with blood alcohol readings ranging from 91mg to 202mg per 100ml of blood, all exceeding the legal limit under the Road Transport Act 1987.
The court further ordered imprisonment in default of payment of fines. Ezequel and Ng face six months’ jail if they fail to settle the RM10,000 penalty, while Arwinah, Cylister and Audreco face five months’ imprisonment.
The accused were charged under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from RM10,000 to RM30,000 upon conviction.
Traffic Prosecuting Officers Inspectors Amrin Mohamad Arif and Irian Shah represented the prosecution.
In a separate proceeding before the same magistrate, two individuals were fined RM100 each after failing to provide satisfactory explanations regarding money found in their bank accounts.
Wong Jim Loong, 27, admitted possessing RM13,000 in a GXBank account at a residence in Taman Foo Loong on Oct 21, 2024, while Md Safwan Zairul, 19, admitted having RM600 in a Bank Simpanan Nasional account in Kampung Putaton, Penampang, on July 23, 2025.
Both pleaded guilty to offences under Section 22A(1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance (Sabah), which provides for a fine of up to RM100, imprisonment of up to three months, or both. They were fined RM100 each or face three days’ imprisonment in default.
This version shifts the focus from the individual offenders to the broader enforcement action by authorities and the court’s stance on publicsafety and accountability.
