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Motorist caught with tempered fuel gauge This is the third case in three consecutive months. -AsiaOne Fri, Oct 10, 2008 AsiaOne For three months in a row, Singapore Customs has successfully prosecuted motorists found tampering with fuel gauges. On 8 October 2008, Muhammad Ali Putra Bin Hairom, a 24-year-old Singaporean became the third person in 2008 within a span of the last three months to plead guilty for not having the minimum amount of motor spirit in his vehicle?s fuel tank when attempting to leave Singapore on 7 October 2008, and for giving false information to the officer inspecting his fuel gauge of his vehicle. For the two charges, he was sentenced to $500 fine or in default one week?s jail, and two weeks? imprisonment respectively. On 7 October 2008, at about 3.15 pm, Muhammad Ali Putra Bin Hairom was caught with a tampered fuel gauge at Woodlands Checkpoint. His car fuel gauge indicated that the tank was full. However, close examination of the car confirmed that its fuel gauge had been tampered with and the actual amount of fuel in the fuel tank was at the one-quarter mark. Investigations revealed that Muhammad Ali Putra had used a remote control to change the fuel gauge reading, and he was aware of the three-quarter tank rule. Muhammad Ali Putra was charged in court on 8 October 2008. On the same day, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced by the court. Tampering with the fuel gauge of the vehicle so that it gives a false reading that the amount of fuel in the fuel tank is three-quarters full is a serious offence. It shows a deliberate intent to cheat the authorities. Singapore Customs has successfully prosecuted six persons for tampering with their car fuel gauges from 2006 to date. All offenders were convicted and were sentenced to both fines and imprisonment. This year, Muhammad Ali Putra was thethird person convicted for the offence. Two others were each convicted in August and September 2008. Furthermore, from 2006 to date, more than 7,200 motorists had been fined for not having at least three-quarter tank of petrol when leaving Singapore. (so many?) More to come later.