Thaindian News

Melbourne, Mar 25 (ANI): Australian model Lara Bingle has let slip on-air that she had illegally copped demerit points for her friends, which caused her to lose her driver’s licence.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Bingle, 23, who lost her licence in December last year following a speeding fine, discussed her driving ban on 2DayFM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show on breakfast radio.

“It was because of a loss of points. I had too many. I took some for my friends,” News.com.au quoted her as saying.

The admission surprised host Kyle Sandilands who pointed out that it is illegal.

“That’s totally illegal … you’re not allowed to take points for your friends,” Sandilands said.

Bingle later attempted to justify the comment via her Twitter page.

“Just to clarify I never took any of my friends points regarding their licence. I said it in sarcasm. End of story. LB,” she wrote.

Soon after hitting the airwaves, a member of the public contacted the RTA and told of Bingle’s on-air confession.

An RTA spokeswoman said an investigation was under way and that, at worst, Bingle could face fraud charges in a criminal court and if found guilty of any demerit-point offences would face a maximum of two months in prison under the Road Safety Act.

When the spokeswoman was told that Bingle had later denied her actions, the spokeswoman said the RTA would still pursue the investigation.

At the annual prix de marie claire awards Bingle again insisted that her comments about copping her friends’ points was a joke.

“I lost my licence. I lost it on my own, that’s the truth. I get it back in just over a month,” she said.

“Of all the things I said in the interview I can’t believe that small thing was taken out and has been turned into such a big deal.

“I can’t help not take it personally. It was a joke,” she added. (ANI)