Four lorry drivers fined RM4,000 each for overloading their vehicles

SIBU: Four lorry drivers, who pleaded guilty to charges of carrying excess load in early October, were each fined RM4,000 in default three months in prison by the Magistrate’s Court here on Tuesday (Dec 12).

Timber lorry drivers, namely Yong, 63, and Steven, 59, were each charged with overloading timber logs. Their vehicles were weighed at the JPJ Sibu branch compound on Oct 8, at 4.10 am and 4.47am, respectively.

Yong was carrying an excess load of 65,250kg, or 71.7 per cent of the maximum limit of 38,000kg allowed while, Steven was found to be with an excess load of 64,100kg, or 68.68 per cent of the maximum limit of 38,000kg allowed.

Meanwhile, two cargo lorry drivers namely Kudy, 44, and Stephen, 32, were each charged with overloading cargo goods. Their vehicles were weighed at the JPJ Sibu branch compound on Oct 8 and Oct 4.

Kudy was found to be carrying an excess load of 36,650 kg, or 78.78 per cent of the maximum limit of 20,500kg allowed while, Stephen was carrying an excess load of 36,150kg, or 72.14 per cent of the maximum limit of 21,000kg allowed.

They failed to comply with the driver’s licence conditions under Section 19(1)(b)(vi) of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987, thereby committing  an offence under Section 19(3) of the same Act.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) Sibu branch in a statement yesterday (Dec 13), said the charges against the men were read simultaneously before Magistrate Onn Kerk Chern, with the prosecution led by JPJ Sibu assistant enforcement officer Mohammad Erwan Bohari.

Mohammad Erwan told the court that vehicles carrying excessive or dangerous loads posed a risk of causing fatal accidents due to brake and technical failures, as well as inflicting serious damage to the roads.

In mitigation, the drivers appealed to the court for a lighter sentence, citing financial constraints, being first-time offenders and the need to support their families,.

They paid the fines.