Tiang's fine reduced to RM15,000 on appeal

PENANG,  30 Junel 2008

Trainer Tiang Kim Choi, who was fined RM25,000 for providing false evidence at an inquiry, has his fine reduced to RM15,000 after an appeal.

Tiang was found to have provided false evidence at the inquiry into the handling of WONDERFUL WIZARD in the Class 4, Div 5 - 1200m sprint in Penang on March 22.

WONDERFUL WIZARD, trained by Tiang and ridden by apprentice K Eirwan, finished finished sixth to VENOM. Eirwan was on March 24 suspended three months at the conclusion of an inquiry over his handling of the gelding after he pleaded guilty to a charge under MRA Rule 44(10) for failing to ride to the satisfaction of the Stewards.

Tiang was on April 7 found guilty of a charge of misconduct under MRA Rule 152(5) in that he gave false evidence during the inquiry on March 24 in that he had started that he had placed a bet of RM300 each way at the tote counter in the Trainer's Room at the Penang Turf Club on Mar 22. This information that he submitted was found to be false.