SINGAPORE: A man was sentenced to five months ‘ jail on Tuesday ( Jan 21 ) for riding his motorcycle without due care and attention and hitting a 73-year-old female pedestrian, causing her death.
Rendra Hairul was even barred from driving for eight years after being convicted of a second command under the Road Traffic Act.
The 34-year-old had claimed test for the event, which happened on Dec 20, 2020 at about 4. 20pm.
According to court documents, Rendra was riding his bicycle along Orchard Boulevard towards Grange Road at about 67kmh to 73kmh. This is above the five-lane street’s speed control of 50kmh.
Rendra was riding close to the limit of the third and fourth roads when he sped away to beat two vehicles- one on his left and another on his straight.
According to a police speech Rendra gave, he had overtaken one of the automobiles after it” immediately jammed break… without any purpose” on the second street.
After he overtook this vehicle, he finally noticed the motorist running from his right to left. He said that although he tried to break, it was too soon as she was about 5m back of him.
The pedestrian had been crossing the road near the return of the Four Seasons Hotel. Court records stated that Rendra collided with her on the third street of the street.
” Upon introduction of the doctors at the injury site, they noted that the dying was in respiratory arrest,” stated court papers.
She was finally taken to the Singapore General Hospital where she was found to have a bone bone, a half severed right thumb and various lacerations on her figure among other accidents.
The commuter was pronounced dead on the same day. An autopsy later found her wounds were steady with that of a road traffic accident.
Rendra’s prosecutor, Mr Rajan Sankaran Nair from Rajan Nair & Partners, argued that Rendra had ridden his bicycle with due care and attention.
As the two vehicles he overtook were “immediate dangers”, Rendra had to focus on them. But after he overtook the trucks, he had noticed the commuter too soon and could not have avoided the incident.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor ( DPP ) Colin Ng said that the case was” straightforward” and that the defence was trying to shift blame to the pedestrian.
” While ( overtaking the car ), he focused solely on the vehicles on his left and right without paying attention to the road ahead, resulting in the collision,” said DPP Ng.
VICTIM Criticizing” TROUBLING”
On Tuesday, DPP Ng asked for a sentence of six to eight months ‘ prison and for Rendra to be disqualified from driving for eight times.
Though Rendra was riding above the speed limit, was negligent and failed to keep a proper lookout forward, DPP Ng said that there was no evidence to suggest Rendra rode in a harmful way.
However, he noted that he should be sentenced to at least six months ‘ prison as the incident had resulted in a suicide.
During the prevention, Rendra’s attorney said that the commuter had contributed to the incident as she had put herself in threat by crossing the five-lane road when traffic was large, and asked for a lower word.
DPP Ng said it was” troubling” that the defence repeatedly blamed the pedestrian for the accident, to which Mr Rajan said that his client was remorseful.
” His interest was distracted and he is of the view that he is not careless. This does not think he does not take the court selection,” said the lawyer.
District Judge Kenneth Chin noted that while the pedestrian had quickened her steps and stepped into Rendra’s way, he should have been allowed to see her.
” He could have avoided the collision if he was no travelling above the rate control,” said the judge.
” This was an unfortunate incident in which no group walks away unscathed. ( This is an ) irreparable loss for the victim’s family. “
Rendra may begin his sentence on Feb 10 after he was granted a deferment for his private interests.
For riding a motorcycle without due care and attention, and causing a death, Rendra could have been jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$ 10,000, or both. The sentence also comes with a moratorium from driving any automobile.