Darwin Dong Dong Driving School Instructor Dongbei Lyu has pled guilty in Darwin local court, from over in China, to the charge of 'Offer Bribe To Police Officer'.
Represented by his barrister Peter Maley in court this morning, Dongbei's matter was decribed by his defence counsel as: "A comical set of facts."
"He's on the ground, on his knees, holding a wad of money to the police standing there videotaping him, who are telling him 'what are you doing?'
"He says I'm a driving instructor, please don't give me a summons or a fine, I want to pay it now."
Judge: "Was he intoxicated?"
Defence barrister Maley: "No he wasn't."
Dongbei's barrister explained that his client was in the "incorrect side" of a "dual-control" driving instructor's car.
"So rather than drive the vehicle on the right side, he's in the left side, going down the road.
"They pulled him up and say you need a sticker on the back of your car that says left hand drive. He didn't have that.
"So he's in the instructor driving car, driving in the passenger side of the vehicle, in full control.
"He's pulled up, and the police said you're going to get a ticket."
Judge: "This is going to go to the supreme court?"
The legal jargon and discussions then proceeding that question were beyond Mango's court reporting abilities.
After the discussions, defence barrister Maley talked more about his client: "Your honour, he's never been in trouble before.
"He's a permanent resident. He's been in Darwin for seven years. He's got a bachelor of mechanical engineering at CDU.
"He's been a driving instructor for three years.
"Your honour, it is a plea of guilty to a fresh charge. Charge three."
Defence barrister Maley requested the matter be dealt with in way of a fine.
The judge questioned the charge of 'Drive Vehicle In A Manner Dangerous' in relation to not having a sticker on the back of his car, in a passing comment.
The crown prosecutor replied they had come onto the matter late, and required more time in relation to that charge and how they would be proceeding with it.
Crown prosecutor: "In saying that, if there was a charge for stupidity, he would be put in for that.
"The simple fact is, that he's a driving instructor, and driving the car on the opposite side of the vehicle.
"His excuse was, to try and save time to go to a lesson.
"Again, stupidly, opens his wallet and offers money..
Judge: "To pay the fine on the spot."
Crown prosecutor: "Your honour, we don't accept that."
"Given the objective seriousness though of the offending. Given his lack of priors, we would seek a conviction and probably a fine."
Judge: "So convicted on count three. Count two is withdrawn. Count one is adjourned to the 4th October.
"In relation to count three, I fine the defendant $800 and I also impose one victim's levy."
Charge two of 'Attempt To Pervert The Course Of Justice' was withdrawn.
We are The Mango Inquirer.
