11-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) A tragic accident on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) in Singapore on February 6 resulted in the death of a motorcyclist, leading to the conviction of 28-year-old Malaysian driver Pua Yui Loon. Pua, who worked as a cashier at a lounge bar in Singapore, was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison on September 10, following his involvement in the fatal crash.
The events leading up to the accident unfolded after Pua had worked an overnight shift at the bar, during which he had consumed alcohol. After closing time around 1 a.m., Pua drove a colleague home to Paya Lebar before heading toward the Woodlands Checkpoint via the BKE. Traveling at a dangerously high speed of at least 141 km/h, far exceeding the road’s 90 km/h limit, Pua approached a motorcycle carrying two people in the rightmost lane.
Despite slowing slightly, Pua attempted to overtake the motorcycle by squeezing into the narrow space on its right, leading to a collision that caused the motorcycle to overturn. Instead of stopping, Pua fled the scene. Two vehicles trailing behind captured the accident on their in-car cameras.
Motorcyclist killed at the scene, girlfriend injured
The collision violently ejected the motorcyclist, 22-year-old Joshua Chiam Chee Wai, and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Siti Noor Diyana Abdul Rahim, onto the road. Siti, although conscious, was severely injured and unable to reach her boyfriend, who was lying unresponsive. Paramedics quickly arrived and rushed Siti to the hospital, but tragically, Joshua was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was determined to be severe head injuries.
The motorcycle was found badly damaged, with its seat and engine parts torn off and deep dents visible on the wheels and fuel tank. Meanwhile, Pua had escaped across the Causeway to his condominium in Johor Bahru (JB).
Pua arrested at Woodlands checkpoint
The day after the accident, on February 7, Pua re-entered Singapore by bus and was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint. Video footage from witnesses and in-car cameras helped authorities, including the police and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), identify Pua as the driver involved in the accident.
During court proceedings on September 10, Pua pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death. Five other charges, including failure to render assistance, failure to report the accident, and dangerous driving causing grievous harm, were taken into account during sentencing.
The prosecutor emphasized that Pua’s actions—driving at excessive speeds and recklessly trying to pass the motorcycle—demonstrated a deliberate disregard for safety. She further noted the emotional and physical harm caused to Siti, highlighting Pua’s decision to flee the scene rather than stopping to help.
Pua’s defense lawyer argued that his client deeply regretted his actions, stating that Pua’s guilt would weigh on him for the rest of his life. Pua had expressed a desire to apologize to the families affected. His lawyer explained that Pua had fled out of fear and not as an excuse, urging for a minimum sentence of two years.
Judge highlights Pua’s recklessness and alcohol consumption
However, the judge rejected the request for a lenient sentence, pointing out that Pua’s speed of 141 km/h was far beyond “mere speeding” and posed extreme danger to others on the road. The judge also questioned whether Pua was driving under the influence of alcohol, given that he had been drinking beer at the bar earlier that night. Although Pua’s lawyer argued that there was no evidence of intoxication since no alcohol test was conducted at the scene, the judge remained unconvinced.
Ultimately, Pua was sentenced to three years and ten months in jail, along with a ten-year driving ban. The judge cited Pua’s excessive speed and alcohol consumption as aggravating factors in the case.
