Man jailed for rash driving and failing to stop after accident, Latest Singapore News - The New Paper
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Man jailed for rash driving and failing to stop after accident

This article is more than 12 months old

A businessman tried to leave after a traffic accident along Old Airport Road and drove rashly when a motorist stood in front of his car to prevent him from leaving.

Edward Loh Teik Khoon drove his car forward, causing the victim to jump onto the bonnet of his car.

He continued driving in a zig-zag manner for 100m to 200m while the victim was still on his bonnet, a court heard.

Yesterday, Loh, 49, was jailed for eight weeks, fined $600 and banned from driving for two years on four charges.

He had claimed trial to three of the charges - driving so rashly as to be likely to cause hurt to Mr Edwin Heng Yong Mong, 52; failing to render assistance after injury was caused to Mr Heng; and failing to stop after the accident in 2014.

He was convicted by District Judge Ong Chin Rhu on Oct 30 after a seven-day trial.

Loh had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention by failing to keep a proper lookout ahead, thus hitting Mr Heng's car.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Andrew Low said that Mr Heng and another motorist, Mr Poh Chin Aik, 42, were driving along Old Airport Road towards Joo Chiat Road sometime before 8.20pm on June 2, 2014, when they stopped at the traffic red lights near the Dunman Road junction.

Mr Heng's car was behind Mr Poh's. Suddenly, Loh's car rammed into the back of Mr Heng's vehicle, causing it to surge forward and hit Mr Poh's car.

The impact threw Mr Heng forward against his seat belt before he recoiled and hit his headrest. He was disorientated, had pain at the back of his head and had difficulty breathing.

Mr Poh, whose spectacles fell off, suffered numbness in his right hand. His wife, who sat in front, suffered chest pains.

Both Mr Heng and Mr Poh's wife were each given three days of medical leave.

When Loh tried to drive away, Mr Heng stood in front of his car to stop him. Loh claimed to have had just a can of beer before the accident. He denied driving rashly.

Convicting him last month, Judge Ong said that she did not find his evidence or explanations for his manner of driving convincing.

She said that his manner of driving gave the couple the distinct impression that he was trying to throw Mr Heng off his bonnet.

Loh, represented by Mr T.M. Sinnadurai, could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $5,000 for rash driving likely to cause hurt to any person.

ACCIDENTS FIRE FLOOD