A lawyer was fined $2,000 and disqualified from driving for 18 months on Wednesday for drink-driving.

Dennis Chua Soon Chai, 62, who runs his own law firm pleaded guilty to committing the offence along Balestier Road at 4.25am on Nov 8, 2012.

Court papers stated that a breathalyser test indicated a reading of 42mg per 100ml of breath. Defence counsel Rajan Supramaniam asked the court to impose the minimum fine and disqualification period as there were no aggravating factors.

When passing sentence, District Judge John Ng noted that Chua was neither speeding or driving improperly and that the lawyer's alcohol level was also only seven points above the legal limit of 35mg.Chua apologised to the court for the bad judgement on his part.