KUCHING: A local man who ploughed through a police roadblock and knocked down a senior police officer before fleeing the scene last Saturday (June 20), has been sentenced to more than two years behind bars after testing positive for multiple drugs.
Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the incident occurred at around 2.40am during an integrated crime prevention operation at Jalan Padungan.
“The 29-year-old allegedly defied police orders to stop and drove through the roadblock, striking an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who was carrying out his duties before speeding away.
“The officer suffered injuries to his waist and a cut to his right elbow. He was rushed to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further treatment.
“Acting swiftly on intelligence and follow-up investigations, police tracked down the suspect less than five hours later. He was arrested at around 7 am along Jalan Bintara in Samariang,” he said.
Preliminary urine screening found the suspect was under the influence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine and benzodiazepine at the time of his arrest.
Background checks also revealed that he has six prior records for various offences.
Alexson said the suspect was charged at the Kuching Court on June 22 under Section 26(2) of the Police Act 1967 for failing to obey a police officer’s signal to stop at a roadblock, which carries a six-month jail sentence.
He also received a one-year prison sentence under Section 332 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from carrying out his duty, and a further nine months’ imprisonment under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his duties.
Overall, he was sentenced to a total of two years and three months’ imprisonment after being convicted of three offences.
Aside from that, the suspect is expected to be charged under Section 44(1A)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of drugs on a date to be fixed later.
In light of this, motorists are urged to obey instructions issued during roadblocks and warned that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol not only violates the law but also poses a serious threat to road users and enforcement personnel carrying out their duties.
