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04-26-2024, 02:32 AM
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42-Year-Old Driver Handed Four Charges Over Tampines Accident
42-Year-Old Driver Handed Four Charges Over Tampines Accident A driver involved in a multi-vehicle accident in Tampines that killed two people was charged in court on Thursday (Apr 25). Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 42, was charged with four offences related to Monday's incident. According to charge sheets, Syafie drove recklessly along Bedok Reservoir Road towards Tampines Avenue 4 at about 7.07am on Monday. He allegedly made an abrupt lane change on the two-lane road to overtake a car on its right, then filtered back into the left lane in front of this car. District Judge Salina Ishak then asked Syafie, who was unrepresented, if he was seeking counsel.Syafie replied that he would be engaging a lawyer, but did not specify from where. The prosecution applied for Syafie to be placed on court bail, with electronic tagging as one of the conditions. Bail was set at S$30,000 (US$22,000). Asked about the e-tagging condition, the prosecution noted that Syafie's passport had been seized. "However, in view of the seriousness of the offence, the prosecution requires an e-tag for monitoring as well as if there's any flight risk," the prosecutor said. Syafie objected to the application. He told the judge: "I don't think it's a necessary thing to put an e-tag because all my documents and passport have already been seized by the police and I am already on bail and today, I am also present." He added that he would be present for all court matters but would leave the decision to court. In response, the prosecution referred to the charge for failing to stop after an accident, indicating it suggested "poor conduct" and "an element of flight risk". Syafie was placed on bail with all the conditions requested by the prosecution imposed. These include not interfering with any witness or obstructing the course of justice, not having contact with any of the prosecution witnesses and reporting to the investigation officer as and when required. Syafie will return to court for a pre-trial conference on Jun 7. If convicted of dangerous driving causing death, Syafie may be jailed between two and eight years and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles. For dangerous driving causing hurt, he could be fined up to S$10,000, or jailed for up to two years, or both, and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles. If convicted of dangerous driving, he could face a fine of up to S$5,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both. The offence of failing to stop after an accident carries a maximum fine of S$1,000, up to three months' jail, or both. |