SINGAPORE: Former actor Edmund Chen has appealed against the five-day jail sentence handed to him for his role in an accident that left a motorcyclist with multiple wrist fractures.
District Judge Shawn Ho had imposed the sentence on Thursday (Jan 29) despite the prosecution asking for only a fine of between S$3,000 and S$5,000.
According to court records, which identified the 63-year-old Chen as Tan Kai Yuan, the appeal was filed on Feb 2.
He was previously represented by Invictus Law’s Josephus Tan and Cory Wong.
A new lawyer, Kelvin Ong from Contigo Law, is now on Chen’s case, according to a hearing list on the judiciary’s website.
Chen had pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous hurt to a motorcyclist, 21, while driving a car without consideration for other road users.
The court heard previously that Chen was driving along the AYE towards the CTE around noon on March 4, 2025. Just before the point of collision, Chen slowed down almost to a complete stop on the expressway, before filtering abruptly into another lane.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Stephen Yeo said this was because Chen had not formed up in the correct lane but had still tried to enter the CTE/SLE by braking abruptly and filtering against a chevron marking.
The prosecution said Chen had failed to keep a proper lookout. A motorcyclist coming from behind crashed into Chen’s car despite swerving to avoid him.
The motorcyclist was taken to Singapore General Hospital and had to undergo surgery for multiple wrist fractures. He was hospitalised for two days and given 99 days of hospitalisation leave, but did not suffer permanent disability.
In sentencing Chen, Judge Ho described his actions as “intentional violations of specific safety rules designed to prevent high-speed collisions”.
“A driver who chooses to ignore expressway restrictions demonstrates a cavalier disregard for the significant risk of a high-impact crash,” the judge said.
In addition to the jail term, the judge also disqualified Chen from driving for five years.
After the case concluded, a teary-eyed Chen told reporters that he would like to apologise to the motorcyclist, and that the incident was a lesson and reminder for him to be aware of traffic safety. - The Straits Times/ANN
