Leadfoot church leader Neti Seruka warned over latest traffic offence

A magistrate has warned a Samoan church leader from Kingston that he could kill someone if he continues to speed and his good deeds will count for nothing.

A respected leader of a Logan Samoan church has been warned his good deeds will count for nothing if he continues to speed.

Neti Seruka, from the Kingston Congregational Christian Church In Samoa, pleaded guilty in Richlands Magistrates Court on Friday to driving while demerit point suspended.

The court heard he had a lengthy traffic history which included two periods where he was on a 12-month good driving behaviour period.

Seruka was also caught driving more than 30kmh above the speed limit in September last year.

The latest traffic offence occurred on February 21 on Industrial Ave, Wacol.

References from his church, which were handed up in court, said he was a respected leader in his community who was known for his good work.

Neti Seruka.

But Magistrate Aaron Simpson wasn’t buying it.

“The reason you are here today is (because) you are a bad driver,” Mr Simpson said.

“The people in your church say you are a wonderful person and you’re a strong leader in your community.

“Well, if the example you lead (reflects your behaviour) on the road, it’s a bad example.

“Road safety is important because without road safety people die.

“All the good deeds you do in your community will count for nothing if you kill some kid on a street corner.”

Mr Simpson told Seruka a cautionary tale about a woman sentenced to jail recently after hitting and killing a pedestrian at Acacia Ridge.

She was driving at 72km/h in a 60km/h zone, and police tests showed she would have been able to stop in time if she were obeying the speed limit.

“Every K over can be a killer,” Mr Simpson said.