BY the time Veerasamy Suppiah is allowed behind the wheel of any vehicle again, he will either be dead, or 151 years old.

If he wants to drive within his lifetime, the 54-year-old will have to pay a $2,700 fine, serve a four-week jail sentence and stop driving for two years.

Veerasamy's surprising 99-year suspension began when he failed to pay $27 for road tax on his motorcycle in 2005.

It was de-registered in 2006.

But he continued riding the bike without insurance cover - and ended up with more fines, which he failed to pay.

He was issued a summons and warned he could be banned from driving if he did not turn up in court.

When he still did not turn up, the court decided that enough was enough - and imposed the 99-year driving ban, which lawyers say is very unusual.

The authorities later wrote to Veerasamy informing him of the court's decision: 'Your driving licence has been disqualified by a court of law from 17 February 2006 to 16 February 2105.'

Even then, Veerasamy claimed he was not aware of the 99-year driving suspension.

His lawyer said Veerasamy is illiterate.

He continued to drive a lorry, which was his job, until last June. That was when the long arm of the law finally caught up with him.

SPOT CHECK

While loading some furniture onto the lorry, Veerasamy was approached by police officers carrying out a spot check.

After examining his licence, the officers realised that it had been revoked for 99 years. They arrested him.

On Thursday, Veerasamy was sentenced to four weeks in jail and disqualified from driving for two years.

He was also fined $2,700 for the earlier offences.

If he serves the sentence, doesn't violate the two-year ban, and pays the fine, the 99-year suspension would be lifted.

He pleaded guilty to six charges relating to driving while under disqualification, keeping a de-registered vehicle, not paying road tax and driving without insurance cover.

In mitigation, Veerasamy's lawyers, MrPE Ashokan and MissHarjean Kaur of KhattarWong, described him as 'a man of little financial means'.

Mr Ashokan said in court: 'He knew that if he couldn't pay the fine, he would have to serve a default imprisonment sentence. However, he couldn't afford to be in jail as his family was depending on him.

'Stuck in this quandary, he didn't attend court.'

Mr Ashokan added that Veerasamy readily provided his licence during the police spot check on 26 Jun last year because he was not aware of the driving ban.

Though the authorities had written to Veerasamy, Mr Ashokan said his client could not recall receiving any notice about the driving disqualification.

The lawyer added that Veerasamy would not have understood the official documents any way.

Mr Ashokan said: 'It was only after his licence was screened and he was told that it had been revoked for 99 years that he realised... he had been disqualified.'

Veerasamy has filed an appeal, but remains in remand because he could not raise the $12,000 bail.

Mr Ashokan told The New Paper that Veerasamy's licence remains suspended for 99 years until he serves the jail sentence, completes the two-year disqualification and pays the fine.

The Road Traffic Act allows offenders' licences to be disqualified until outstanding offences have been dealt with, if they fail to show up in court.

But other lawyers whom The New Paper contacted said it is rare for the duration of such suspensions to be stated explicitly.

They were surprised at the 99-year ban.

Mr Kirpal Singh, of Kirpal & Associates, said: 'Ninety-nine years sounds draconian. For other types of traffic offences, the ballpark figure is about five years.'

Mr Nicholas Cheong of Lim Soo Peng & Co said: 'It's the first time I've heard of such a long driving ban.

'The law allows an offender's licence to be suspended until the outstanding offences are concluded. But I don't know why, in this case, the ban is 99 years.'

He said it makes sense to have an infinite ban because of the lack of motor insurance coverage.

He said: 'The authorities wouldn't want him to drive without insurance and end up knocking down someone. Without any motor insurance, he wouldn't be able to compensate the victims.'

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HOW IT BEGAN

2005: Fails to pay $27 road tax on motorcycle.

2006: Bike deregistered but he continues driving it

He's gets more fines, but doesn't pay.

Ignores court summons.

Slapped with 99-year ban.

2007: Caught driving during police spot check.

Claims he's unaware of ban.