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Former Mediacorp actor Shane Pow has been sentenced to five weeks' jail and a S$6,000 fine for drink driving.

The incident, which took place on Sep. 17, 2020, was Pow's second offence.

In 2014, the actor was fined S$1,500 and banned from driving for a year for the same charge. Another S$800 was slapped on for inconsiderate driving.

Exceeded alcohol limit

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Pow was with two other friends at a Korean Restaurant at Amoy Street on the night of Sep. 17.

The group was celebrating a birthday, according to Yahoo.

Pow had two glasses of beer, but stopped drinking at around 8:30pm.

The group then stayed on for another two hours, during which Pow drank water. At 10:30pm, Pow sent his friends home to Tiong Bahru.

He then headed to Bugis to pick up another friend before making his way home.

At around 11:20pm, Pow was stopped at a roadblock along Java Road towards Nicoll Highway, where he was found with 49mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the 35mcg limit.

"A victimless crime"

Yahoo noted that Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Goh Yong Ngee sought five weeks’ jail, a fine of S$6,000, and a driving ban of five years for Pow.

Pow's lawyer S S Dhillon asked for four weeks' jail, a fine of S$5,000 and a driving ban of five years.

CNA quoted Dhillon as saying that Pow was "completely shell-shocked" by the proceedings.

"He is so dislocated and petrified that the accused will never dare to be anything less than a law-abiding citizen henceforth. [...] This fear has sent shivers down his spine, which in itself is a grave punishment for the accused."

The lawyer also called it "a victimless crime," since no other parties were harmed.

In response, DPP Goh said that this defence was "at best neutral":

"The fact that this is a victimless crime, as stated by the defence, is at best neutral. The offence of drink driving is established once the accused’s breath alcohol exceeds the prescribed limit. In such cases, a stiff deterrent sentence is called for in the interests of general and specific deterrence."

For drink driving as a repeat offender, Pow could have been jailed up to two years and fined between S$5,000 and S$20,000.

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Top image via Shane Pow's Instagram page