Speeding driver fined 300,000 francs

A court has slapped a 300,000 franc fine on a German millionaire clocked last year at 137 kilometres per hour in a Ferrari through a St. Gallen village where the limit was 100 km/h.

The sum, a record in Switzerland, was based on the man's wealth of around 23 million francs and more than doubles the previous top fine handed to a Porche driver in Zurich in 2008.

"The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed," said the court of the more recent case.

The defendant had been convicted of speeding offences several times in the past.