ALOR STAR: The man who assaulted a Road Transport Department enforcement officer in a video that went viral since late yesterday, had been slapped with one-day jail term and a RM4,000 fine in November last year.
Kedah RTD's director Aman Shah Hashim said that investigations into the video found that the incident happened near Jalan Taman Tasik Darul Aman in Jitra about 4.04pm on Nov 22 last year.
He said the one-minute and 24-second video showed a Nissan Vanette driver refusing to stop when flagged down by an RTD officer for an inspection.
"In the video, the driver eventually stopped his vehicle on Jalan Tasik Darul Aman in Jitra, and proceeded to attack the RTD officer on duty, using offensive language and provocation.
"At the time of the incident, the officer was conducting enforcement patrols and identified a suspicious vehicle. Initial checks showed that the lorry committed three violations including an expired motor vehicle license, had no insurance coverage and an expired Puspakom inspection certificate.
"The vehicle was directed to stop, but the driver refused to cooperate. When the lorry stopped, the individual committed a criminal act of violence and obstructed a public servant from performing his duties," he said in a statement today.
Aman Shah said that following the incident, a police report was filed by the assaulted RTD officer.
He added that the individual, a 24-year-old sugarcane beverage vendor, has already been detained by the police and has already been charged in the Jitra Magistrate's Court under Section 353 of the Penal Code on Nov 27.
"The individual has served his sentence after the court imposed a one-day jail term from the conviction date and a fine of RM4,000," he added.
Aman Shah also reminded the public not to share any videos without verifying its authenticity first.
"Such videos could tarnish the image of public services and hinder public servants from carrying out their duties as stipulated by the law," he added.