SINGAPORE - A motorist who had been disqualified from driving for seven years tried to trick a police officer manning a road block that he was his younger brother to avoid being arrested.

Derek Khor Boon Chun, 30, was jailed for 16 months on Thursday (March 10) after he pleaded guilty to four charges - including consuming methamphetamine. He will also be disqualified from driving for 14 years after his release from prison.

The court heard that on Nov 9 last year, Khor was driving along Bukit Batok East Avenue 6 in the direction of Avenue 3 when he spotted a road block ahead.

He made a left turn into a private residential area, about 200m away before the road block, in order to avoid it.

A police staff sergeant then went up to the car to check on it.

Khor claimed that he did not have his wallet with him, and verbally provided his younger brother's full name and NRIC number to the officer.

He did not want to be arrested for driving while under disqualification. He had been banned for seven years in 2010, for the same offence.

The police officer found a wallet underneath the driver's seat, which had Khor's particulars in it. Khor admitted that he had lied about his identity.

He was arrested and taken to Jurong Police Division Headquarters.

His urine samples were taken and his urine tested positive for methamphetamine or Ice.

Khor admitted to abusing the drug two days earlier.

He said he was introduced to the drug by a friend he had made while in prison previously, and that he had been smoking the drug in order to stay awake for work.

The maximum punishment for driving while under disqualification is three years' jail and a $10,000 fine.