New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS): Over five years after Alistair Pereira, driving under the influence of alcohol, ran over 15 labourers sleeping on a Mumbai pavement killing seven of them, the Supreme Court Thursday upheld a Bombay High Court verdict awarding him a three-year jail sentence.

An apex court bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha cancelled the bail bond of Pereira, the 25-year-old son of a rich businessman, and directed him to surrender.

Pereira, who holds an engineering diploma, was charged with running over 15 labourers sleeping on a pavement in Carter Road in suburban Bandra Nov 12, 2006, killing seven of them.

He was convicted by a sessions court April 13, 2007, which awarded him six months imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.5 lakh that was to be paid to the victims of the accident.

Pereira challenged the conviction before the Bombay High Court, which Sep 6, 2007 confirmed his conviction and enhanced the sentence to three years. It also criticised Mumbai police for slackness in the investigation process and taking too much time to submit their report.

It was the high court verdict that Pereira had challenged in Supreme Court. He was granted bail at that time.