30-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) In a dramatic turn of events, Muhammad Idris Musbah, a 36-year-old wanted man who gained notoriety after being caught on camera attempting to forcefully drive his car out of stationary traffic, has been slapped with 11 new charges. The incident, which unfolded on May 28, has now escalated into a legal quagmire for Idris, who finds himself embroiled in a litany of offences ranging from endangering human life to drug-related crimes.
Videos circulating online captured the shocking scenes of a dark-coloured car trying to manoeuvre its way out of a traffic junction, colliding first with a lorry and then a car. The driver’s brazen attempt to flee the scene was met with swift action from two uniformed police officers, who are seen hitting the driver’s window and subsequently pulling a man, identified as Idris, out of the car and subduing him while he lay face down on the road.
According to one of the new charges levelled against Idris, he allegedly endangered human life by trying to manoeuvre his car out of the stationary traffic and hitting a lorry on May 28. Additionally, he faces two counts of carrying weapons in public on the same day, namely a knife and a black knuckle duster.
Of the remaining eight new charges, four are for drug-related offences, and four are for being a member of an unlawful society. Court records reveal that Idris was previously charged in September 2020 with being armed with a knife while being part of an unlawful assembly, a charge he has stated he will not be pleading guilty to.
Adding to the complexity of the case, Idris is also being investigated for driving without a valid licence and using a deregistered vehicle, among other offences. Authorities have confirmed that Idris tested positive for drugs after his arrest on May 28.
The incident has also led to an innocent bystander being caught in the crosshairs of mistaken identity. A woman whose car has the same licence plate number as the car Idris was seen driving in the viral videos told The Straits Times that she had received letters for various offences she did not commit, including speeding and not obeying parking signs between April and May.
In a dramatic turn of events, a man identified as Mr Maurice Nadarajan, a salesman at the car dealer the woman had purchased her car from, spotted the car with the same licence plate in Yishun and tailed it for 40 minutes. He attempted to stop the car by standing in front of it, resulting in him sustaining cuts on his arm and a back injury during the scuffle.
The police have confirmed that they received a call for assistance at the junction of Admiralty Road and Marsiling Lane at about 5.50 pm on May 28, leading to Idris’s arrest at the scene. Authorities have seized a baton, a knuckle duster, a pocket knife, a bank card, seven cash cards, substances believed to be controlled drugs, and drug utensils from the vehicle. Idris may face additional charges pending the completion of investigations.
