The driver of a prime mover was fined $3,000 and disqualified from driving for one and a half years yesterday for running over a man in March last year, resulting in the death of the elderly jaywalker.
K. Manickam, 48, had pleaded guilty to being negligent by failing to maintain a proper lookout and causing the death of retiree Cheah Peng Yuen, 78, along West Coast Highway at 9:00pm on 20th March 2012.
A district court heard that he had been driving the prime mover towards Tanjong Kling in Jurong. He was intending to detach the empty chassis there and drive home. He had switched from the extreme left lane to the centre lane of the three-lane highway when his vehicle hit Mr Cheah. The retiree died on the spot from multiple injuries.
Pleading for only a fine to be imposed, defence lawyer Akramjeet Singh Khaira said Manickam had been driving a prime mover for 15 years with a clean record. The father of two children, aged six and eight, was also the sole breadwinner of his family, the lawyer added.
Manickam looked relieved when the judge said that a fine would be an appropriate punishment. For causing death through a negligent act, he could have been fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to two years, or sentenced to both.
K. Manickam, 48, had pleaded guilty to being negligent by failing to maintain a proper lookout and causing the death of retiree Cheah Peng Yuen, 78, along West Coast Highway at 9:00pm on 20th March 2012.
A district court heard that he had been driving the prime mover towards Tanjong Kling in Jurong. He was intending to detach the empty chassis there and drive home. He had switched from the extreme left lane to the centre lane of the three-lane highway when his vehicle hit Mr Cheah. The retiree died on the spot from multiple injuries.
Pleading for only a fine to be imposed, defence lawyer Akramjeet Singh Khaira said Manickam had been driving a prime mover for 15 years with a clean record. The father of two children, aged six and eight, was also the sole breadwinner of his family, the lawyer added.
Manickam looked relieved when the judge said that a fine would be an appropriate punishment. For causing death through a negligent act, he could have been fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to two years, or sentenced to both.
