Detention for NSF who caused permanent injury to motorcyclist while driving military car in Mandai

SINGAPORE – A full-time national serviceman executed a U-turn while driving a military vehicle along Mandai Road which resulted in an accident and caused permanent disability to a motorcyclist.

Hoo Kai Sng, 23, was sentenced to a short detention order of 10 days on July 2.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without reasonable consideration for others using the road, causing grievous hurt.

Offenders given a short detention order are put behind bars for a short time, but will not have a criminal record after their release.

Hoo will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for five years after his release.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Bin said that Hoo, who was serving his National Service as a Singapore Armed Forces transport operator, was driving a military car along Mandai Road in the direction of Yishun Avenue 1 on Sept 4, 2021, at about 4.30pm.

While waiting to make a U-turn, he noticed that there was oncoming traffic.

However, he misjudged how far away two motorcycles were and believed that he had ample time to make the turn.

Said DPP Bin: “Following the U-turn, the accused should have entered lane 1 of the 3-lane road. However, the accused drove without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road by making a wide turn, such that the motor car completed the turn straddling lane 2 and lane 3.”

A 31-year-old motorcyclist who was travelling on lane 2 moved to the edge of the lane in order to avoid a collision with Hoo.

Hoo then swerved the motor car into lane 2, colliding with the motorcyclist.

The motorcycle skidded and hit another motorcycle, that was being ridden by a 29-year-old in lane 1.

The impact of the collision caused both riders to be flung off their motorcycles, and they struck the road at a high speed.

Hoo and his passengers alighted the vehicle and together with a passer-by rendered aid to the victims.

DPP said Hoo called the police emergency hotline to report the accident and both victims were taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment.

The 31-year-old motorcyclist sustained a fracture near his right wrist and bruising on his left one.

He underwent surgery and remained in hospital overnight before being discharged with 120 days of hospitalisation leave, followed by 118 days of light duties.

DPP Bin said the victim suffers from a four per cent permanent disability, and will have permanent difficulty carrying heavy objects.

“As a result of this injury, he has a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis,” the prosecutor added.

The other rider suffered various injuries including rib and collarbone fractures.

He underwent surgery and stayed in hospital for three days before being discharged with 84 days of hospitalisation leave.

DPP Bin said the prosecution would not object to a short detention order, citing Hoo’s young age and the consideration of rehabilitation.

Hoo’s lawyer Kalaithasan Karuppaya asked for a similar sentence and told the court that his client was currently studying in a local university.

For driving without reasonable consideration for others using the road, causing grievous hurt, Hoo could have been jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.