Kulai: A 64-year-old Singaporean permanent resident has been fined RM9,000 by the Magistrate's Court after being discovered using fake registration plates to purchase RON95 petrol earlier this month. The court found Long Sa Kow guilty and ordered him to serve nine months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the charge against Long stated that he was driving a silver Volkswagen Jetta with the registration number SLJ8967M at the time of the offence. The incident occurred at about 10.30 pm on January 2 at a petrol station located along KM 21/4 of the Johor Bahru-Ayer Hitam Road in Kulai. Long was charged under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which allows for a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor S Thiviya urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the offence affected public interest and was driven by personal gain. In contrast, Long's lawyer, Sharmaine Fairuz Mohd Zulkifli from the National Legal Aid Foundation, sought leniency for her client. She highlighted that Long is a first-time offender, a retiree without a fixed income, and the sole provider for his wife and school-age child.