Ahmed Awad: Browns Plains man guilty of driving stoned, on meth

A young Logan man driving erratically with two drugs in his system has told a court he was trying out the ‘autosteer’ function.

A young Logan business owner pulled over on the Sunshine Coast for swerving within his lane was discovered with both methamphetamine and cannabis in his system, a court has heard.

Browns Plains man Ahmed Hossam Eldin Has Awad, 28, was pulled over at Chevallum Rd, Chevallum, about 8.53am on February 29 this year.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard Awad was the subject of a police “broadcast” earlier that morning due to reports of a vehicle swerving dangerously on the Bruce Highway at Beerburrum.

A saliva test revealed the presence of the two drugs in Awad’s system.

Browns Plains business owner Ahmed Hossam Eldin Has Awad, 28. Picture: Alex Treacy

Awad admitted to having a “puff of a joint the day before”, the court heard, and told officers he was on his way to Point Cartwright for a business meeting.

In court, Awad told Magistrate Michael O’Driscoll that there was “no excuse” for his behaviour, which was driven by the stresses of his divorce proceedings.

“I was trying to fill a void by going on a bender,” Awad said.

He told the court the swerving was due to his trying out the ‘autosteer’ function on his new Toyota HiLux ute, which he purchased some two weeks prior to the offence.

In pleading for the minimum disqualification to be imposed, Awad said that “lots of people rely on me to make a living”.

However, the court did not hear what industry he was in.

Mr O’Driscoll fined Awad $650 and disqualified him for one month.

A conviction was recorded against his traffic record.