Seberang Perai Selatan police chief Jay January Siowou said a police team from the traffic investigation and enforcement division of the district police headquarters was conducting Op Bersepadu and Op Samseng Jalanan in the Jawi toll plaza area here at 11.30pm when personnel spotted two tipper lorries that appeared suspicious.

“When ordered to stop, the two vehicles refused to cooperate but continued to speed towards Jalan Besar Nibong Tebal.

“One of the lorries ran a red light at Bukit Panchor and almost hit a police officer on duty. The driver even drove dangerously towards Jalan Transkrian before being arrested with the help of a patrol car and the police motorcycle patrol unit at Jalan Sungai Duan, Kampung Ladang Kalidonia,” he said in a statement last night.

Initial investigations found that the lorry driver, a local man, did not possess a valid driving licence or a goods vehicle licence, while the lorry’s road tax had expired.

The case is being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a civil servant from performing his duties, and Section 279 of the same law and Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act for dangerous and reckless driving.