The latest addition to the AMIRIS Digital Court platform is a module for Malaysians to plead guilty for traffic offences via an online portal.
Known as e-PG, the system allows traffic offenders to plead guilty virtually without having to physically appear in court. This includes offenders being able to enter a guilty plea via their mobile phone. Given the high number of traffic summons cases that are typically filed by the authorities, the e-PG system will help the Malaysian Courts dispatch the heavy caseload more efficiently.
Equally important, the online system minimises the requirement for physical presence at Court, helping to keep everyone safe during the pandemic and provides a far more efficient way for offenders to clear any guilty plea cases.
The pilot phase of the e-PG system went live recently at Malaysia’s Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court and has subsequently been expanded to the Magistrate’s Court for Traffic Cases at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in the capital. The e-PG system will be rolled out to other courts across Peninsular and East Malaysia in the coming months.
There are currently some 44 traffic offences that allow guilty pleas to be made online via the e-PG system. These include offences related to driving licence, vehicle licence plate, traffic light violation, and pedestrian walk violation, among others. It does not apply to summons for speeding offences, however, which still require offenders to be present at court.
On receiving a summons, traffic offenders whose cases are registered at the court can browse the e-PG system and view the case cause list. After logging in to the e-PG portal, offenders can enter a guilty plea together with any mitigating reasons to reduce the sentence. The e-PG system will notify the Prosecutor and, assuming no aggravation is submitted, the conviction is passed and a fine imposed. The system notifies the offender of the outcome and the fine payable. Only in the event that the prosecution makes an aggravation submission is a new date is set for hearing in open court.
The move is part of the Malaysian Judiciary’s significant efforts in expanding its virtual operations to ensure the administration of justice does not grind to a halt due to the pandemic. Other digitisation initiatives rolled out since the outbreak of COVID-19 have included virtual court hearings via the AMIRIS platform.
The e-PG System: https://bit.ly/2NOFzsD
