Dancer who skipped court six times fined RM20,000 for drink-driving

BATU PAHAT: A dancer who skipped court proceedings six times was jailed for three days and fined RM20,000 by the magistrate's court here today after pleading guilty to drink-driving last year.

Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno handed down the sentence against Tan Bing Lee, 44, after taking into account his guilty plea, mitigation, and submissions from the prosecution and defence.

The court also took into consideration the suspect's blood alcohol content, which exceeded three times the permitted limit.

Tan failed to pay the fine and was ordered to serve a 10-month default jail sentence.

The court also ordered that Tan be disqualified from holding a driving licence for two years starting today.

According to the charge, Tan was accused of driving a Proton Wira while under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol level of 171 milligrammes per 100 millilitres (mg/100ml), exceeding the legal limit of 50 mg/100ml.

He committed the offence at Jalan Taman Kota, Yong Peng, here at 1.15am on May 11, 2025.

The charge was framed under Section 45A(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which carries a fine of up to RM30,000, up to two years' imprisonment, and disqualification from holding a driving licence.

According to the facts of the case, police conducting Op Mabuk stopped a car after finding it in suspicious circumstances.

A breathalyser test returned a positive result for alcohol, and Tan was taken to the Batu Pahat district police headquarters for further action.

A second test at 2.34am confirmed his blood alcohol level was 171 mg/100ml.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Shahzleen Ibrahim prosecuted, while Tan was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Normaahani Rais.