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SINGAPORE: It was an uphill task for defence lawyer Alan Moh on Thursday as he tried to convince Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong why his client, who had been found guilty of a fatal hit-and-run accident, shouldn't be jailed for more than the 12 months meted out by a district judge last year.
Not only did Mr Moh receive an earful from the Chief Justice for his submission, the lawyer also incurred the wrath of the parents of his client, Charles Lee Cheow Loong, after the latter's jail term was increased four times.
Throughout the near-three-hour Magistrates Appeal hearing in the High Court, the Chief Justice repeatedly questioned Mr Moh's oral submission.
Responding to Mr Moh's description of the accident as "just a collision", the Chief Justice asked: "Just a collision? Imagine the impact on the woman. All her bones must be broken."
He told the lawyer: "You are making your case worse than it should be."
Lee, 30, was jailed for a year last December on seven charges, including committing a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide, driving when he was banned and not helping his 79-year-old victim after the accident.
The former pub owner had knocked into Mdm Pang Hong Koon in November two years ago at a cross-junction on Eu Tong Sen Street just after 6.30am.
It was not clear if Mdm Pang had been jaywalking or if Lee — under a driving ban for drink driving at the time — had beaten the red light.
After hitting Mdm Pang, Lee fled the scene, leaving behind one of his car's registration plates that had fallen off.
He hid the car and surrendered only after 28 hours.
Prosecutors appealed against the "manifestly-inadequate" sentence and on Thursday, Second Solicitor-General Walter Woon led the charge to have it increased.
He accused Lee of being unremorseful and coming out of hiding only after the police had identified him.
"The sentence meted out should reflect the revulsion of society at the callous and irresponsible behaviour of (Lee)," Prof Woon said.
Agreeing, the Chief Justice said this "has to be one of the worst traffic violations that has come to court".
CJ Chan then increased the sentence to four years and banned Lee from driving for 10 years after his release.
Explaining his client's actions, Mr Moh said Lee did not stop after hitting Mdm Pang as he was afraid he would be beaten up for knocking down the victim.
Lee didn't go to the police immediately because he thought the investigation officer would not be around to "entertain" him, Mr Moh said.
"This is an incredible submission," retorted the Chief Justice, adding that Lee's fear of being assaulted was a "fantasy".
Upset at their son's lawyer after the hearing, Lee's distraught parents and relatives wailed and shouted at Mr Moh outside the court room.
"Four years? I have only one son. Why didn't you do your homework?" Lee's father shouted at the lawyer.
Mr Moh, who runs his own law firm, could not be reached for comment.
- TODAY/so
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