Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy director-general Yusoff Ayob today pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court in Putrajaya to a charge of driving on the emergency lane.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim W Ab Rahman imposed a fine of RM600, or seven days’ imprisonment in default.

Yusoff, 58, allegedly committed the offence while driving the car, bearing the licence plate BLY68 along in Lingkaran Putrajaya at 6.27pm on Oct 7, 2016.

The maximum fine for the offence is RM2,000.

This is in violation of Rule 53(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959, and is, therefore, an offence under Section 119(1)(c) of the Road Transport Act 1957.

However, Yusoff was not present in court today. Instead, a person, said to be his special officer, pleaded guilty on Yusoff’s behalf.

The man had declined to provide his name to the press.

Prosecutors from Selangor RTD, Mohd Hafizuddin Mohd Lutfi and Rahalim Mohamed (photo), declined to give further details on the case.

Citing orders from their superiors, they told reporters to contact the department’s public relations office instead.

Meanwhile, making his plea in mitigation during the sentencing, Yusoff’s special officer claimed that Yusoff was out to monitor his department at the time of the offence, and was “excited” when he noticed a member of the public filming him.

This prompted a question from Isfahanie whether Yusoff was pleading guilty or not, to which the special officer replied in the affirmative.