By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: The High Court of Sabah and Sarawak has introduced their Electronic Plead Guilty (e-PG) system that allows individuals charged with 42 minor traffic offenses to electronically enter a guilty plea, thereby enhancing efficiency and accessibility while reducing the need for in-person court appearances.
The first use of e-PG in Sarawak was today (July 18) at the Magistrate Court of Bintulu and Miri, and in Sabah yesterday (July 17) at the Magistrate Court of Kota Kinabalu.
According to a media release today, the Malaysian Judiciary introduced the e-PG system in 2021, commencing at the Magistrate Court of Shah Alam on Feb 5.
The High Court of Sabah and Sarawak stated that the launch of e-PG marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the judicial process.
“By leveraging technology to provide more convenient and efficient options for traffic offenders, the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak are taking a proactive step towards a more accessible and streamlined justice system,” the statement said.
The e-PG platform offers a secure, user-friendly interface that guides summoned persons through the process of pleading guilty online.
This system is intended for cases involving 42 minor traffic offenses where a guilty plea is appropriate and permitted by the law.
By allowing individuals to resolve their cases remotely, the platform aims to save time, reduce court congestion, and provide a more convenient option for those who might otherwise face challenges attending court in person.
The key features and benefits of the system include accessibility from any device with internet connectivity, thus providing flexibility for the summoned persons to plead guilty from the comfort of their own homes.
It also improves court efficiency by reducing the number of in-person appearances required as e-PG helps to alleviate the backlog of cases in the court system and allowing judges and court staff to allocate resources more effectively.
The platform provides clear, step-by-step instructions to ensure the summoned persons understand their rights and the implications of their guilty plea.
Additionally, the system includes safeguards to verify the summoned persons’ identity and ensure voluntary participation. — DayakDaily
