KEY POINTS:
A Malaysian tourist failed to turn up in Napier District Court this week because he was having a "lovely time" seeing the country.
Instead he wrote the judge a letter asking to be pardoned and promising not to do it again.
But now he faces arrest.
"Being a tourist I am always travelling and moving all around the places in this country; which is of this particular reason that I may find it difficult to attend the summons and court hearing as scheduled," Choi Lok Siong wrote.
"Your goodwill and you co-operation is needed and very much appreciated in order to make my travelling in New Zealand memorable," the Dominion Post reported.
Siong, 38, was supposed to appear before Judge Geoff Rea on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol.
He was caught driving in Napier on January 1 with a breath-alcohol level of 551micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
Judge Rea said it sounded like Siong was having a "lovely time" and that he was "guilty as sin". A warrant for his arrest was issued.
- NZPA
