Published on Aug 22, 2016, 9:38 pm AST

By Nikita Braxton-Benjamin

A $15,000 fine was yesterday imposed on a labourer who was found driving while four times over the legal alcohol limit.
Suraj Borilal, 28, who appeared before the court on a similar charge months ago, also had his driver’s permit forfeited for two years.
On Sunday, the labourer was stopped at 1 a.m. by officers who were on mobile patrol duty, police prosecutor Sgt Anil Manick said.

He told the court alcohol was detected on Borilal’s breath and a breathalyser test showed he had a reading of 146 microgrammes—111 microgrammes over the legal limit.

While he told the police he had “two beers to drink”, Borilal admitted to San Fernando Magistrate Taramatie Ramdass that he had consumed “a good bit”.

He said he drove after his friend became ill.

The magistrate told him he could have called an ambulance for his friend or contacted a person to pick them up or a wrecker to tow the car.

Borilal’s previous convictions showed that in February 2015 he was fined by a San Fernando magistrate for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Ramdass warned him that for a second offence he could be ordered to pay a maximum fine of $22,500 and/or sentenced to five years in prison.