SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): The prosecution is seeking between 12 years and nine months’, and 13½ years’ jail for the driver who caused the 2024 Tampines accident that killed two people.
Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 45, had in August pleaded guilty to three charges of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous hurt and dangerous driving causing hurt.
A 17-year-old junior college student and a woman died, while eight others were injured in the six-vehicle collision.
Syafie will be sentenced on Oct 5.
During Syafie’s court hearing on Sept 7, Deputy Public Prosecutor Niranjan Ranjakunalan also urged the court to impose a lifetime driving disqualification.
Noting that the harm caused was undeniably severe, the prosecutor said: “This is not a case where merely careless driving or a spur-of-the-moment mistake resulted in outsized harm.
“Instead, the accused exhibited highly dangerous driving behaviour over a prolonged period.”
The DPP cited a victim impact statement from the student’s father, who was also injured in the accident, showing that the man blamed himself for what happened every day.
The father’s statement read: “The loss of my daughter affected the whole family... Our life now will never be the same. I do not know what will be there for us in the future.”
Defence lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya sought a sentence of between seven years and six months’, and eight years’ jail for his client. He agreed on a lifetime driving ban.
Noting that Syafie’s actions were due to a lapse in judgment, Kalaithasan said: “This is a scar that will remain with him for the rest of his life.”
The defence lawyer added that the sentence the prosecution was seeking would be crushing on Syafie.
Kalaithasan said Syafie previously served the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore as a Quranic teacher, but was suspended from teaching in 2024 due to this court case.
A letter that Syafie wrote to the victims’ families was attached to the mitigation plea handed to the court.
Kalaithasan said: “In the letter, he expressed his profound regret and remorse for his actions and the pain and suffering he had caused. He conveyed his heartfelt apologies to the victims and their families and acknowledged the gravity of what had occurred.
“His decision to personally put his remorse into writing reflects his genuine contrition and deep regret for his conduct.”
Principal District Judge Toh Han Li said he needed time to consider the submissions from both sides and adjourned sentencing.
Before the hearing on Sept 7, Syafie arrived at the State Courts alone. He kept his head down and did not speak to the media.
The crash
On April 22, 2024, Syafie had finished working the night shift as an operations manager at a global manufacturing firm and later dropped off a GrabHitch passenger in Bedok at around 6.15am.
He then drove dangerously by abruptly overtaking a car along Bedok Reservoir Road.
His car collided with another car, causing it to veer left and almost hit a motorcyclist.
Syafie drove off towards the junction at between 129kmh and 134kmh. The speed limit there was 50kmh.
He ran the red light, which had been red for at least 26 seconds, and rammed into three vehicles, causing a chain collision.
The prosecutor previously told the court that when the girl’s father woke up in hospital, he asked where she was.
When told she had died, he broke down. He was later taken to another room to see her and hold her hand.
The prosecutor, citing a victim impact statement by the girl’s mother, said the woman had been struggling with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A medical report from a psychiatrist quoted in court documents stated she felt life was meaningless. The woman contemplated dying from illness, but had no suicide ideation due to her religion.
She had to stop working and was unable to do housework. She was proud of her daughter, who had aspired to become a doctor.
Injured eight others
As Syafie sped through the junction, his car collided with two cars before surging forward to crash into another car.
Meanwhile, the first car Syafie crashed into spun before overturning, and this caused it to collide with the van and a minibus.
The crash caused injuries to eight others, including two 11-year-old boys. One of the victims suffered rib fractures, while another sustained a head injury.
A 42-year-old woman, whose name was redacted, suffered injuries to her hand, which has since made it difficult for her to type and dress herself.
The prosecutor said the victim was unable to concentrate at work, and had poor sleep and appetite as she would often think about the accident.
The woman had to take a less demanding role at her job to recover and go for physiotherapy.
Her 11-year-old son, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered from nightmares and disturbed sleep.
At school, he would unexpectedly remember the accident and would request toilet breaks to cry. He also wanted to avoid being near a road, crossing a road, or travelling on fast-moving transport, such as trains.
After the crash, Syafie stayed in the driver’s seat until a bystander helped him to the roadside. Syafie sustained fractures to his arm and rib, but has no permanent disability.
He was arrested two days after the crash after being discharged from hospital. His driving licence was immediately suspended.
Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for up to eight years and disqualified from driving. -- The Straits Times/ANN
