John Biar Abit Biar, 27, received a suspended sentence and was released from custody before police apprehended him again. Photo: Albert McKnight.
A drunk driver was so intoxicated that it was surprising he was even able to stand when he got behind the wheel of a car and crashed into a house.
But John Biar Abit Biar did not stop and apologise after narrowly avoiding injuring or killing the residents of the home. Instead, he drove off, perhaps hoping no one would notice the severe damage to his car.
The 27-year-old was convicted and sentenced to one year and three months’ jail by the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (1 October), with the sentence suspended after he spent five months behind bars.
The court heard he was driving a friend’s car on 23 April 2026 when he lost control in Holt, drove through a property’s Colorbond fence and crashed into the house, causing extensive damage to the building.
“He knew he was intoxicated and he still chose to drive a car, and this is the result,” prosecutor Chamil Wanigaratne said.
“It is only by good fortune that no one was significantly injured or killed as a result of his driving.”
Biar then drove back to the home of a friend, where he was staying. Police arrived to find the badly damaged car parked in the driveway.
He was arrested at the property and returned a blood alcohol concentration sample of 0.284 – more than five times the legal driving limit.
“I’m surprised he could actually stand, let alone drive a car,” Mr Wanigaratne said.
But he accepted there was no evidence Biar had intentionally driven towards the house before the crash.
John Biar Abit Biar is met by police officers waiting outside the ACT Courts on Thursday. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Biar’s lawyer, Donovan Kelso of Legal Aid, said it was the first time his client had committed offences and that he had caused the serious accident after becoming uncharacteristically drunk, then making a foolish decision to drive.
He also said his client had been unable to contact his wife and two children during the five months he had spent behind bars.
The court heard that Biar was born in South Sudan, moved to Australia in 2002, worked in construction in Adelaide and Melbourne, and planned to live in Adelaide with his aunt after his release.
Magistrate Ian Temby noted he hadn’t appeared to have verbalised any empathy for the victims. But he also said there didn’t appear to be any need for his rehabilitation.
Biar pleaded guilty to two counts of damaging property and one count of dangerous driving.
He had remained in custody since he was arrested after the crash.
Because he had already spent five months in jail, he was released after sentencing on Thursday to complete a two-year good behaviour order.
However, he was arrested again by police officers waiting outside the ACT Courts as he was leaving, as they were planning to apply to extradite him to South Australia to face unrelated charges.
Too many incentives for false allegations these days is also a probelm system abusers should be… View