I had taken painkillers'

MBABANE - A teacher who was arrested for drink-driving yesterday told the court that she had taken painkiller tablets before she was arrested.

Nqobile Ndzabandzaba, who is a teacher at Maloyi Primary School in the Lubombo region, said the alcohol content in her body was less than 38mg/l which is the legal limit. This prompted Principal Magistrate Nondumiso Simelane to ask her whether she had evidence to that effect, but she answered to the contrary.

Section 91 (5) of the Traffic Act provides that a person shall not drive on a public road or occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle which is running or not while the concentration of alcohol in the specimen of breath of such person is 0.38 milligrams per 1000 millilitres

"Your Worship, I was surprised when the police arrested me as during the day in question I had taken alcoholic beverages two hours before my arrest and when they eventually arrested me, I had taken some painkiller tablets," she said.

She said when the police arrested her next to Mater Dolorosa School, she tried to explain to them that she had taken painkillers, but they proceeded to arrest and charge her.

Ndzabandzaba, who pleaded guilty to the charge, implored the court to pass a lesser sentenced since she was a first offender and had pleaded guilty to the charge. She also said if she knew that the alcohol content in her body was still high, she was not going to drive on that day.

She was found guilty as per her own plea and was sentenced to a month imprisonment with an option of a E1 000 fine. The bail she had paid was converted to be E1 500 the fine and she would claim the balance.

Appearing for the Crown was Futhi Lushaba, while Ndzabandzaba conducted her own defence.

　

　

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Your website:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: