Maserati driver who dragged cop with car had pledged vehicle to parents, claims sister

Lee Cheng Yan could have the luxury car forfeited to the state following the hearing in February. - ST File

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): A forfeiture hearing for a Maserati driver, whose car dragged a Traffic Police (TP) officer for more than 100m in 2017, has been adjourned to Feb 27.

This after his sister told the court on Wednesday (Jan 25) that recalcitrant offender, Lee Cheng Yan, 38, had pledged the car to their elderly parents and they were its de-facto owners.

It was not said in court when Lee had allegedly pledged the vehicle to his parents. The value of the car was also not mentioned in court.

Lee, who was earlier convicted and sentenced over various offences including driving while under disqualification, could have the luxury car forfeited to the state following the hearing in February.

Under the Road Traffic Act, in cases of repeat offenders convicted of driving while under disqualification, the court has to order the forfeiture of the vehicle when the prosecution applies for it.

Addressing the court on Wednesday, his sister said the family is supporting his two daughters in Japan.

Stressing they do not condone his offences, she said Lee had taken large loans from their parents to settle his legal fees.

His sister added Lee had pledged the car to them to repay his loans.

The sister also told District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam their mother had sold her jewellery to raise money to help Lee.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Timotheus Koh had asked for the adjournment so Lee and his sister could have more time to prepare their submissions on matters involving the possible forfeiture.

The DPP also said checks needed to be made to ascertain if there are credit companies linked to the purchase of the car.

When approached by The Straits Times later, his sister, who declined to be named, declined further comment.

Lee, who is now serving his jail sentence and is not represented by a lawyer, turned up in court in his purple prison outfit.

He was earlier dealt with in court over two sets of proceedings.

He was under a driving ban on Nov 17, 2017, when he was stopped by the officer in Bedok Reservoir Road for not wearing a seat belt.

While the officer was standing next to the driver’s door, Lee suddenly reversed the car then accelerated forward.

The policeman was dragged along Bedok Reservoir Road when his uniform got caught in the driver-side door. When he fell onto the road, Lee sped off without rendering help.

In July 2020, he was sentenced to four years and seven months’ jail and a S$3,700 fine on multiple charges, including voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a TP officer. He was also given a lifetime driving ban.

While Lee was on bail pending his appeal against his conviction and sentence, he repeatedly drove a BMW rented by one of his friends.

He was handed more charges for traffic offences. In one incident on March 12, 2021, he drove through a police roadblock, drove dangerously by speeding at 140kmh and ran two red lights.

In January 2022, he was sentenced to another jail term of one year, nine months and 16 weeks. Lee was also ordered to pay a $1,000 penalty over graft charges.

On Jan 18, 2023, he pleaded with a High Court judge to reduce his sentence totalling more than six years.

Lee repeatedly said he was remorseful for what he had done and asked for leniency so he could reunite with his daughters earlier.

Lee also asked for his car to not be forfeited, saying he wished to use the sales proceeds to provide for his children.

Justice Aedit Abdullah rejected Lee’s appeal and chided him for not learning his lesson, adding: “You don’t seem to understand the seriousness of what you have done.”