Man, 27, charged over BKE hit-and-run that killed motorcyclist, 22; accused allegedly fled to M'sia after crash
SINGAPORE — After allegedly hitting a motorcycle along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) on Tuesday (Feb 6), 27-year-old Pua Yui Loon did not stop to render assistance, but instead fled to Malaysia immediately.
The accident resulted in the death of 22-year-old motorcyclist Joshua Chiam Chee Wai, and serious injuries to his 23-year-old pillion rider Siti Noor Diyana Abdul Rahim.
Court documents did not state what these injuries were.
On Friday, Pua, a Malaysian, was charged with:
- Dangerous driving causing death
- Dangerous driving causing grievous hurt
- Failing to stop after an accident
- Failing to report an accident within 24 hours
- Failing to help the injured
Court documents stated that he had allegedly driven dangerously along the BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint and later collided with the motorcycle.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said that Pua allegedly fled to Malaysia after the incident and did not stop to help the injured or report the accident to the police within 24 hours.
The Traffic Police and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) managed to ascertain the driver’s identity and his car’s vehicle registration number through ground inquiries.
Video footage from witnesses and cameras from the Land Transport Authority, ICA and police also helped to identify him.
Pua was arrested when he tried to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint on Wednesday at about 3.20pm.
On Friday, the prosecution sought to keep him in remand for a week because he was needed for a scene visit and to recover his vehicle in Malaysia.
The police are working with the authorities in Malaysia to retrieve the car, the prosecution added.
Appearing in court via video-link while in remand, Pua said that he was driving straight and was uncertain if he had hit the motorcycle, or if the motorcycle had collided with him.
"When I went back, I checked my bumper (and) it was not damaged so I don't know when the collision happened," he added. "It was not that I didn't want to help."
He also asked the court if he could seek bail. In response, the judge said that the prosecution can grant him bail only after the investigations are completed.
Pua is expected back in court on Feb 16.
For dangerous driving causing death, he may face a jail term of two to eight years, and disqualification from driving all vehicles.
If found guilty of dangerous driving causing hurt, he may be jailed for between one and five years and be disqualified from driving all vehicles.
For failing to stop after an accident, failing to make a police report within 24 hours, and failing to assist the injured, he may be fined up to S$1,000 or be jailed for up to three months, or both, for each charge.
