SINGAPORE – A law firm partner traveling in Bukit Timah drove his car into a right turn lane, running a red light at a junction, and collided with a motorcyclist with enough force to rip off the front of his bumper. .

On November 8, Brian Ng Pheng Kin, 43, was fined $5,000 and disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for five years.

Ng, a partner at Rajah & Tann, pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious injury while driving dangerously.

Video footage from Ng’s dashcam played in court showed him driving in pouring rain along Sixth Avenue in Bukit Timah at 7.19pm on September 24, 2023, when he approached another car that was approaching. had stopped at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Jalan Haji Alias. .

Ng’s traffic lights to go straight or turn right at the intersection had already turned red.

But Ng honked several times and the car that had stopped in front of him moved to the left, according to the footage. Ng then proceeded to drive forward and turn left before striking a motorcyclist who was traveling in the right-of-way on Ng’s right.

The 29-year-old motorcyclist can be heard screaming in pain after the impact. He was later taken to hospital with a laceration to his calf and a fracture to his left ankle.

The court heard the motorcyclist was admitted to hospital for four days and was given two months’ hospital leave.

Ng was represented in court by Mr Thong Chee Kun, who is also a partner at Rajah & Tann.

In mitigation, Thong said a fine and disqualification from driving would be a fair sentence in this case as Ng was not speeding or driving recklessly when the accident occurred.

For causing serious harm to another person while driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, an offender can be sentenced to between one and five years in prison.

Thong noted that the victim had not suffered any life-threatening injuries, and medical reports indicated that the motorcyclist was not expected to be diagnosed with any permanent injuries.

Mr Thong said: “This incident has also been traumatic for Ng. Since the accident he has avoided driving whenever he could. In fact, he has decided to give up his driver’s license for at least 10 years to take responsibility.”

He added that Ng had informed both the traffic police and the Attorney General’s Office that he would be willing to compensate the motorcyclist in full.

This would include any current or future medical treatment related to the rider’s injuries.