SINGAPORE - Two men were each fined $4,000 on March 26 for causing hurt to a total of five people by dangerous driving after they failed to stop their vehicles at red lights in unrelated cases.
Each offender was also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for a period of 18 months.
One of them, Singaporean Ho Wai Meng, 57, was driving a car shortly after 10.30pm on Jan 17 when he failed to stop at a red light at the junction of Toh Guan Road and Jurong East Central.
The vehicle then collided with another car, said the police in a statement on March 25.
According to court documents, Ho’s passenger and three people from the other car, including the driver, were hurt in the crash. The four people were between 38 and 46 years old.
Separately, Indian national Arockiyasamy Arockiyaraj, 43, was driving a van at around 11.30am on Jan 17 when he failed to stop at a red light at the junction of Sentosa Gateway and Telok Blangah Road, resulting in a collision with a car.
A 27-year-old male passenger in the car suffered injuries.
The police did not disclose details about the injuries sustained by the five victims.
In another case, Singaporean Mohamad Rafi Alia Marikan, 44, was charged on March 26 with one count of causing grievous hurt to a 47-year-old man by driving in a dangerous manner at around 4.30pm on Aug 29, 2024.
The police said Rafi was driving a lorry that day when he allegedly failed to stop at a red light signal at the junction of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim and Tuas West Road.
The lorry allegedly collided with a motorcycle, causing its rider to suffer multiple injuries, including a fractured wrist, the police added.
Rafi’s case will be mentioned again in court on April 22.
In a fourth case, a Singaporean senior citizen was charged on March 26 with one count of causing hurt to a 39-year-old man by dangerous driving.
Lee Sim Yan, 73, is accused of failing to stop his car at a red light at the junction of Clementi Road and Maju Drive at around 10.10am on Aug 28, 2024.
The vehicle allegedly collided with another car, injuring its driver.
The police said Lee is a repeat offender. In September 2012, he was convicted of one count of driving without due care and attention.
Details about the earlier offence and his sentence were not disclosed in court documents. Lee is expected to plead guilty on May 13.
For causing grievous hurt to another person by dangerous driving, a first-time offender can be jailed for between one and five years, while a repeat offender can be jailed for between two and 10 years.
For causing hurt by driving in a dangerous manner, a first-time offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000.
A repeat offender can be jailed for up to four years and fined up to $20,000.
In February, The Straits Times reported that [the number of people killed and injured in traffic accidents hit a five-year high in 2024.](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/traffic-deaths-injuries-hit-five-year-high-increase-in-fatal-accidents-caused-by-speeding)
Figures from the Traffic Police (TP) showed the number of people injured in accidents had gone up from 8,941 in 2023 to 9,302 in 2024.
However, the number of red-light running accidents in 2024 fell 14.3 per cent in 2024 to 96 cases.
TP added that red-light running violations also fell 11.9 per cent to 28,965 cases in 2024.
* Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times’ court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.
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