14-2-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A Singaporean involved in a road rage incident on the North-South Expressway (NSE) has been fined RM5,500 by a Magistrate’s Court in Johor.
Soh Kian Hui, a 45-year-old taxi driver, pleaded guilty to causing over RM2,500 worth of damage to a car during the altercation. The charges were read to him in English before Magistrate Fatin Dalilah Khalid on Wednesday (Feb 14).
According to the charge sheet, Soh used a cane to damage the rear windscreen of a Toyota Fortuner after a heated argument with the 31-year-old owner of the vehicle. The incident took place on Feb 10 at KM139.6 of the NSE in Pagoh, Muar, at 1.58pm. The damage caused amounted to RM2,502.35.
Soh’s offense falls under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which pertains to committing mischief. Upon conviction, this offense carries a potential jail term of one to five years, a fine, or both. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Ariff Marzuki handled the prosecution, while Norain Sakina Zikri represented Soh.
During the proceedings, Norain mentioned that Soh is currently caring for his 71-year-old mother, who is recovering from cancer and has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) disease. She also highlighted that Soh earns approximately SGD3,000 (RM10,626) per month and has no previous criminal record in the country. Noting Soh’s full cooperation with the police, she appealed for leniency.
However, Mohamad Ariff requested a heavier fine as a deterrent not only for Soh but also for other road users, citing the dangerous location where Soh stopped his vehicle during the incident.
Ultimately, the court imposed a fine of RM5,500, with the alternative of 12 months’ jail time if the fine is not paid. Soh paid the fine.
Earlier reports indicated that Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar stated that a foreign man in his 40s was arrested in response to the road rage incident on the NSE. The arrest, conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at 3.30am on Monday (Feb 12) in Genting Highlands, Pahang, followed a report lodged at 2.36pm on Feb 10. A 54-second video capturing the altercation had gone viral on social media.
“Early investigations found that the incident was caused by the victim blocking the suspect’s vehicle on the emergency lane along the highway. This led to the suspect, believed to be a foreigner, becoming dissatisfied and subsequently breaking the rear window of the victim’s car,” Comm M. Kumar explained.
