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SINGAPORE : Former television host Benedict Goh on Wednesday became the latest celebrity to be charged in court with drink-driving, capping a week that has seen the actions of inebriated drivers make the headlines.
Goh, best known for his stint as host of game show "The Pyramid Game", faces four charges arising from two separate incidents.
In the early hours of February 10 this year, the 38-year-old was driving along the Ayer Rajah Expressway, in the direction of Tuas, when he collided with a stationary car that had been involved in another accident.
A breathalyser test showed the alcohol level in Goh's system was over the legal limit. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without due care.
In another incident on February 18, 2004, Goh was found at about 6am by police officers in the driver's seat of his car, which was stopped along Lorong 1, Toa Payoh. Again, he failed a breathalyser test.
Goh allegedly told the police that someone else had been at the wheel of the car. He was charged with being found unfit to drive a vehicle and with providing false information to a police officer.
Goh's lawyer S.S. Dhillon on Wednesday asked the court for leave to make further representations. Bail of $10,000 was posted and the case will be up for mention next month.
Also in court was Su Hong, 48, the driver accused of involvement in a fatal hit-and-run accident on Outram Road on Monday evening that left a nightclub hostess dead.
The businessman faces five charges, including for failing to stop, not rendering assistance to the victim and removing his car from the scene.
Su had sped off after hitting China national Yuan Fudi while she was crossing the road. But about two hours later he turned himself in, and subsequently failed a breathalyser test.
Su told the court he would be engaging a counsel and is now out on bail of $12,000. His case is up for mention again in two weeks.
Under the law, drunk drivers can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for up to six months. Su, who was also charged with being involved in a rash and negligent act leading to a death, could be jailed up to two years and fined.
The number of arrests for drink driving has been growing, with 914 persons nabbed in the first three months of this year - 161 more than in the same period last year. Between this January and March, 40 drink-driving related accidents led to death or injury.
Meanwhile, actor Christopher Lee is expected to enter his plea in court on Thursday over five drink-driving charges for an accident in Little India last year. - TODAY
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