Rui En fined $700 over driving incident
Rui En avoids driving ban, pays $700 fine for careless driving
Local TV actress Rui En, 35, was fined $700 yesterday for driving without due care and attention.
Rui En, whose real name is Lu Rui En, was turning right into an open air carpark when she lost control of her black BMW, mounted a kerb and collided with a parked motorcycle belonging to Mr Bahrom Sarmiten, 52.
The accident happened on April 12 at a Clementi Avenue 2 carpark, near Block 331, at about 4.15pm.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Shahla Iqbal had asked for a driving ban of three to four months and a $600 to $800 fine.
However, District Judge Carol Ling disagreed on the ban, saying that some of the past cases cited by the DPP involved drink driving, which was not a factor in Rui En's case.
SLIGHT DAMAGE
The judge also said a fine was sufficient as there was only slight damage to the vehicles and no one was injured.
Rui En could have been jailed for up to six months and/or fined up to $1,000. She turned up at the State Courts in a black dress, black blazer and a pair of black heels.
She was accompanied by two representatives from her management company, Hype Records, and a friend. She did not engage a lawyer, and pleaded guilty to the charge and paid the fine yesterday.
In court, she was calm and looked down most of the time. She also had nothing to say in mitigation.
Speaking to reporters outside court, Rui En said: "I'm actually very relieved because I can put this (case) down and let it go. And I will bear full responsibility for my mistakes."
She also apologised for inconveniencing her management company, her family and friends.
"I can only say I'm very very sorry.
"And moving on, I really really hope to improve and I really hope to come back better and stronger and give you guys a new Rui En," she added before bowing.
The New Paper understands Rui En has already settled compensation with Mr Bahrom through her insurance company.
The amount involved was not mentioned.
The accident in April sparked off an online brouhaha after it was reported that the first thing Rui En had allegedly told Mr Bahrom was: "Do you know who I am?"
She apologised for those remarks to Mr Bahrom, who earlier told TNP he had accepted her apology.
Rui En received the All-Time Favourite Artiste award just days after the accident.
During her Star Awards acceptance speech, she apologised to the audience and said she was sorry for causing inconvenience to everyone.
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