Chinese Man Who Pledged 'Never to Drive Again' Arrested for Driving Without License During Probation in Japan

(Central News Agency, Saitama Prefecture, 4th) Saitama Prefectural Police announced today that they arrested a 43-year-old Chinese national, Deng Hongpeng, whose occupation is unknown, on suspicion of driving without a license in Misato City yesterday. The suspect had previously been involved in a hit-and-run DUI accident in the same city in May of last year, injuring four elementary school students, and was given a suspended sentence in November of the same year.

According to reports from the Mainichi Shimbun and TBS, the suspect, Deng, was driving without a license on a road near his home at around 1:15 PM on the 3rd.

The vehicle Deng was driving was a sports utility vehicle (SUV), the same one he was driving during the hit-and-run incident in May last year. Saitama Prefectural Police suspect Deng may have been driving without a license multiple times and are conducting a further investigation.

Deng was charged in May last year with violating the Automobile Driving Penalty Act and the Road Traffic Act for hit-and-run, negligent injury, and attempting to evade an alcohol test. In November of the same year, the Koshigaya Branch of the Saitama District Court sentenced Deng to 2 years and 6 months in prison, with a 4-year suspended sentence, and revoked his driver's license.

At the time, the judge stated in the ruling that Deng had shown a reflective attitude by expressing in court that he would 'never drive a car again,' and therefore granted him a suspended sentence. His driver's license was also legally revoked. (Translation: Li Jing / Edited by Chen Yanjun) 1150604