SBS driver who ran over nurse jailed two months, disqualified from driving for five y

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SBS driver who ran over nurse jailed two months, disqualified from driving for five years

TODAY file photo









ByKelly Ng

- [email protected] -
Published: 1:25 PM, June 22, 2015


(Page 1 of 1) - PAGINATE
SINGAPORE — The bus driver who fatally ran over a nurse outside Punggol Bus Interchange was today (June 22) sentenced to two months’ jail.
Muhd Firdaus Norahim, 30, was also disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for five years.

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The court heard that at about 6.43am on May 15, the Malaysian, who was driving a SBS bus, had failed to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians while turning right at a signalised cross junction and thus caused the death of Lucinda Wong, 30.

The nurse suffered multiple injuries, including extensive skull and rib fractures.

Pressing for a two-month custodial sentence – higher than the default starting point of four weeks’ jail for such offences – Assistant Public Prosecutor Koh Huimin said the traffic light signals were green in favour of the deceased, but Muhd Firdaus had showed “blatant disregard” for the absolute right of way accorded to pedestrians at signalised pedestrian crossings.

“Such cavalier disregard of the pedestrian’s right of way can easily result in traffic and fatal consequences – as in the present case,” said APP Koh.

She added that the act occurred during the morning rush hour where pedestrian traffic would generally be high.

“The defendant cannot claim that he did not realise this, because he is a public bus driver (and) would have known the road conditions in that area very well,” she said.

After the collision, which caused Wong to fall under the middle section of the bus, Muhd Firdaus continued driving for a short distance before coming to a stop, the court was told.

These facts point to Mohd Firdaus failing to pause or keep a lookout for pedestrians at the crossing, said APP Koh.

In mitigation, Muhd Firdaus said his wife is dependent on him for livelihood and pleaded for a shorter disqualification period.

“I truly regret that this has happened, especially upon knowing that the deceased had left behind her husband and three-year-old child...I (hope the judge) will be lenient with disqualification to allow me to work in Singapore,” he said.

In sentencing, District Judge Luke Tan said that Muhd Firdaus’ only mitigating factor is that he decided to plead guilty.

“I agree with the prosecution that there are many aggravating factors...as for what you highlighted about a short disqualification (period), disqualification is intended not only as a deterrent but to be protective in nature,” said DJ Tan.

Muhd Firdaus’ sentence was backdated to May 16.

For causing the death by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, Muhd Firdaus could have been jailed two years and fined.


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