By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
AN unlicensed rider who took an unregistered off-road motorbike for a joyriding circuit of Dandenong railway station’s bus terminal and then refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test will be unable to ride again for two years.
Hapimana Kohu faced his fate in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday wearing a T-shirt, Hawaiian shorts and thongs and his hair tied into a plaited, tinted rat-tail.
The court was told Kohu, who claimed to have been dropping off his cousin, was captured by the station’s Protective Services Officers about 10.20pm on 21 February.
Police prosecutor Jodi Kellow said Kohu’s bike was unregistered and without number plates. Kohu and his passenger were without helmets, and Kohu had never had a licence for any type of vehicle.
She said Kohu refused requests by Protective Services Officers to stop riding through the station’s bus terminal.
After another lap of Foster Street and the car park, Kohu was captured by the PSOs as he slowed his bike to mount a gutter.
Police said they detected alcohol on Kohu’s breath but Kohu refused a request to accompany the officers to Dandenong police station for a blood-alcohol test.
Magistrate Tom Hassard said Kohu had made “a very bad decision”, facing a “litany of charges” and a minimum two-year licence disqualification for refusing the blood-alcohol test.
“How is that going to affect you?” Mr Hassard said.
“Not too sure at the moment,” said Kohu – who is employed full-time at a meat works.
He was convicted, fined $1000 and disqualified from driving a vehicle for two years.
