A motorist was arrested and fined together with his employer in Jersey Island for driving with only a Kenyan license and with no insurance.
According to Jersey Evening Post, a Jersey outlet, Fernando Da Costa has been slapped with a Ksh70K fine while the company received a Ksh150K fine to be paid within seven days.
According to police reports, Da Costa drove a Ford transit van and broke several traffic rules before being asked to stop for interrogation.
"It had crossed the middle white lines on two or three occasions. He was stopped and asked for his license, and he said he didn't have it with him," said the prosecuting Advocate Katie Ridley.
When Da Costa went to the police station, it was discovered he only had a Kenyan driving license without insurance.
She added that Da Costa had never been issued a Jersey driving license or undergone any driving test.
The court fined the company for allowing Da Costa to drive without insurance. The director also admitted to failure in checking that Da Costa was entitled to drive in Jersey and the van's insurance policy did not cover him.
"Fortunately there was no accident. Had there been an accident there would have been no insurance to pay damages. It shows the importance from a business perspective of getting your paperwork in order," Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris.
The defendants reportedly did not appear in court or plead guilty to the charges filed against them.
"I accept that neither defendant was trying to break the law. It was a series of mistakes," added the Assistant Magistrate.
Notably, the Kenyan driving license is issued by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) when an applicant meets all the requirements, including training and test.
Also, if a licensing officer believes an applicant is suffering from any disease or physical disability that will pose a threat to the public, such an application can be disqualified.
The said applicant is required to provide valid medical records to prove they are physically fit and also they should pass the driving test.
