Traffic police spotted the vehicle, a red MG5 sedan, being driven dangerously along the Kamala-Patong Road at about 7:30pm last night (Mar 25).
Officers observed that a child was sitting in the rear window behind the driver, while a woman and another child stood inside the vehicle, emerging from the sunroof.
Officers signaled the driver to stop and conducted an inspection. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers detected the smell of alcohol on the suspect, prompting them to conduct a preliminary breath test using a long-tube detector, Kamala Police reported.
The test confirmed the presence of alcohol in his system.
The suspect, not named by police, was taken to Kamala Police Station, where a formal breathalyser test revealed a blood alcohol concentration reported as 68 milligrams percent (0.068), exceeding the legal limit.
Initially, the driver refused to provide his identification documents, leading police to file charges against him.
Pol Lt Pimanat Dingamin, a Deputy Chief of Investigation at Kamala Police Station, confirmed that the suspect was a Russian national traveling with his wife and two young children.
He emphasised the seriousness of the offense. “This case is very dangerous. Fortunately, our patrol officers intervened in time.
“The driver was not alone in the car; he was traveling with his wife and two young children, a boy and a girl. What if the children had fallen out?” Lt. Pimanat posed.
The suspect has been charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving, Pol Lt Pimanat confirmed.
Police have denied bail, and he remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.