26-year-old Singaporean Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alau’ddin, who was the former Silat world champion, was fined $8,000 and banned from driving for 48 months for drink driving, according to The Straits Times.
He was found with almost 2.65 times the legal limit of alcohol in his breath at the time he was caught.
On 27 November 2022, Sheik’s parked car was found by two police officers on the left lane along Cantonment Road heading towards Keppel Road, with the engine of the car still running and the hazard and headlights still on.
Sheik was found in the driver’s seat facing down and slouching forward, and when the police officers spoke to him, he was slurring in his speech, was unsteady in his gait and his eyes were also bloodshot.
The officers did a breathalyser test on him which he failed and he was subsequently arrested from drink driving before being taken to the Traffic Police Headquarters for a second test, which revealed that the alcohol in his breath was 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
He had drunk about 3 cans of beer at a park in Bukit Pasoh at about 11.45pm the previous night, and his last drink was at about 1.30am before he tried to drive home.
Recap
26-year-old Singaporean Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alau’ddin, who was the champion of the 2018 World Pencak Silat Championship, and also won a silver medal at the 2021 SEA Games, was charged with drink-driving
He had driven along Cantonment Road heading towards Keppel road on 27 November 2022 at about 2.30am, with 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Ferdous, who is also the son of the Singapore Silat Federation’s chief executive Dr Sheik Alau’ddin Yacoob Marican, has had his case adjourned to 14 February.
The Singapore Silat Federation said that it is not involved in the personal lives of its national athletes or their engagement with external parties.
They added that they will “stand behind SHeik Ferdous in providing any emotional and mental support that he may need.”
If convicted, Ferdous faces a jail term of up to 1 year and a fine of up to $10,000.
Images source: Team Singapore and Singapore Silat Federation