Magistrate Muhammad Zaki Abd Kudos said the defence failed to rebut the prosecution’s case.
“After going through the evidence by witnesses and the written submissions, I find the accused guilty of the charge,” he said.
Government lawyer Muhammad Izzat Fauzan pressed for a deterrent sentence of a fine and jail term as the accused was a senior public servant who was supposed to uphold the law.
“A deterrent sentence must be imposed to send a clear message to other law enforcement agencies,” he said.
However, Yusoff’s lawyer Baljit Sidhu urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence as his client did not commit an offence under the Penal Code.
Yusoff paid the fine.
In his defence, Yusoff told the court that as RTD’s deputy DG of planning and operations he was allowed to drive in an emergency lane because he was about to carry out his duty.
He claimed that under the Road Transport Act 1987, there was an exception for RTD enforcement officers if they were about to carry out their respective duties.
Yusoff had committed the offence for driving in the emergency lane at the Lingkaran Putrajaya at 6.27pm on Oct 6, 2016.
This is an offence under Rule 53(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 as he drove a car bearing the registration BLY 68.
The charge under Section 119(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, carries a fine of up to RM2,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both, if found guilty.
On July 21, Yusoff was transferred to the public services department after he was charged here on July 18.
Witness: I proposed no action to be taken against ex-RTD deputy DG