Indian-origin Dheeraj Malhotra who works as a chef in Sydney finally faced a Gold Coast court on Monday in a case dating back to May 2012.
On 17th April 2012, Dheeraj Malhotra was driving on the Gold Coast Highway around 1.30 am when he crashed his Toyota Sedan at Broadbeach. He was heavily drunk and fled the scene.
Hours later, police found him at the Gold Coast University Hospital where his blood sample showed alcohol levels seven times more (.340) than what is permitted (0.05) to drive.
In May 2012, Dheeraj was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and given a notice to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court.
But he never appeared in court and instead returned to India.
But on Monday morning, Dheeraj Malhotra turned himself in at the Southport Police Station.
Goldcoast Bulletin wrote that his lawyer Michael McMillan told the court that his client had gone to India to care for his ailing father and now wanted to make amends.
Malhotra was today appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on several charges including two of failing to appear, which he pleaded guilty to this morning.
He has been granted bail on drink driving charge and another unrelated matter on the basis that he report to police in Parramatta.
He will return to court on the Gold Coast in 2017.
