Actress Rui En's BMW hit car in earlier accident
As news emerges of actress Rui En in another accident this year, she clarifies what she told owner of motorbike she had hit on Tuesday
On Tuesday, local TV actress Rui En knocked over a parked motorcycle with her car at an open carpark near Block 331, Clementi Avenue 2.
It turns out that this was not her first accident this year.
Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported yesterday that on Jan 6, Rui En had hit a car and then driven away along Lornie Road towards Adam Road.
The incident, which took place at about 6.20pm, was recorded by the in-car camera unit of the other driver.
He later uploaded the video on citizen journalism website Stomp to appeal for witnesses in a bid to trace the driver that hit his car.
The driver, who did not identify himself, told Stomp that the car was a white BMW with the number plate starting with SJE.
"(The car) also hit a road divider twice before colliding with my car. It is a female driver," he said.
In the video, the BMW can be seen cutting into the driver's lane without signalling before speeding away.
UNAWARE OF FIRST ACCIDENT
Yesterday, Rui En's manager confirmed the accident and told Lianhe Wanbao that Rui En was not aware her car had hit another vehicle until a mechanic informed her when she sent her car to a workshop.
"At the same time, Rui En's friend read online about the owner of the affected car looking for the owner of a white BMW and told Rui En," the manager said.
She said the actress contacted the owner and they reached a private settlement.
In Tuesday's incident, her black BMW hit a parked motorcycle at a carpark near her home at about 4.10pm.
The bike's owner, Mr Bahrom Sarmiten, 52, saw the accident happen. When he saw the BMW reversing, he tried to stop it, thinking that the driver was trying to leave the scene.
Rui En's artist management company, Hype Records, released a statement on Wednesday saying that she had no intention of running away and was just moving her car to a safe area.
It also apologised for "any inconvenience caused".
Mr Bahrom also said that when Rui En, whom he did not recognise, emerged from the car, her first words to him were, "Do you know who I am?"
Yesterday, Hype Records released a statement by Rui En, where she addressed the context of the conversation between her and Mr Bahrom.
She began by explaining how the accident happened: "I misjudged a turn and accidentally knocked over a stationary motorcycle parked directly in front of a kerb.
"I was very disappointed with myself for knocking down the motorcycle. My initial intention was to move my car to a traffic-free spot before addressing the matter.
"I was subsequently stopped by a man. He continuously knocked on my car window while I was attempting to move my car. I later discovered that the man was the owner of the motorcycle."
TRIED TO EXPLAIN
She said that when she got out of her car, she tried to explain that she would take full responsibility.
"He probably had the impression that I looked like someone that would run away from the scene," she said.
"In my state of anxiety, I told him, 'Do you know who I am, I live upstairs and won't run.'
"He appeared to be very angry. I was unsure (if) what I said came out sounding entirely different from what I meant.
"I was simply trying to convey that I live here, people would know and recognise me if I ran away. In hindsight, my choice of words were inappropriate and I agree that it caused unnecessary misunderstanding."
Rui En said she offered to compensate Mr Bahrom for the damage to his motorcycle.
"He was not satisfied with the amount offered and asked for more," she said.
Mr Bahrom told The New Paper on Wednesday that he had turned down Rui En's offer of $2,000 in cash as he felt it would not cover the cost of the repairs. He then asked her for $6,000.
REGRETTED
Rui En (above) said in her statement: "There is absolutely no excuse for my careless driving and, more importantly, I truly regretted it.
"I will also like to take this opportunity to apologise to him for the inconvenience and distress caused."
She added that she wished she had handled the situation with more tact.
Responding to the statement, Mr Bahrom said Rui En had not told him: "I live upstairs and won't run."
When contacted to clarify this, Rui En's manager said: "All that needs to be said is in the statement that was released."
Mr Bahrom said he has yet to hear from Rui En.
"I had no intention to blow the matter up or ruin her reputation, I was just upset at the way she managed the situation," he added.
"I'm hoping the matter will be settled as soon as possible because it's really inconvenient to travel to work without my bike."
There is absolutely no excuse for my careless driving and, more importantly, I truly regretted it. I will also like to take this opportunity to apologise to him for the inconvenience and distress caused.
— Rui En, in her statement released by Hype Records yesterday
I had no intention to blow the matter up or ruin her reputation, I was just upset at the way she managed the situation.
— Mr Bahrom Sarmiten
Co-star: She looked tired on set
On Wednesday afternoon, a day after her accident, Rui En was back at work filming a scene with co-star Sora Ma on the set of Channel 8 cop drama C.L.I.F. 4, reported Lianhe Wanbao yesterday.
Ma, who plays a police officer's girlfriend in the third and fourth seasons of the series, told Lianhe Wanbao that Rui En smiled at her when she arrived on the set, but looked tired.
Veteran actor Zheng Geping, who worked with Rui En on shows like Code Of Honour, Against The Tide and Joys Of Life, told the Chinese daily that he was shocked to hear the news.
Actor Dennis Chew, who played Rui En's brother in the hit Channel 8 series The Dream Makers, declined to comment on the incident, saying he was not there when it happened.
Local stars Aileen Tan and Elvin Ng also declined to comment, with Tan saying: "Can only pray for her".
Ng added: "I'm not sure about the incident, so it is inappropriate for me to comment."
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