The High Court has sentenced Able Wang Ziyi to two weeks’ jail, overturning a district court’s decision to fine him S$8,000 for careless driving causing grievous hurt. Justice See Kee Oon of the Appellate Division delivered the ruling following an appeal by the prosecution.
The July 2021 Crash on Rifle Range Road
The case stems from a late-night incident on July 6, 2021. Wang crashed his car into three motorcycles parked along Rifle Range Road after losing control on a wet bend. The vehicle struck a guardrail, injuring one of the motorcycle owners who was standing nearby. Court documents state the motorcycle owners had parked illegally to trespass onto state land to pick fruit. Wong Chong Ming, one of the owners, suffered deep cuts to his left leg. Wong spent nine days in the hospital and underwent two surgeries.
Did You Know? Expert analysis revealed that Wang was traveling three kmh above the speed limit at the bend where he crashed, but had previously driven at speeds between 71 and 97 kmh on a stretch of road just before reaching it.
Appellate Division Rejects District Court Ruling
Wang previously appealed an initial S$8,000 fine and a five-year driving ban, asking for the fine to be reduced to S$4,000. That appeal failed, and the prosecution counter-appealed for a stiffer sentence. In a Nov 6 judgement, Justice See ruled that the original sentence was “wrong in principle and manifestly inadequate”. The judge rejected the district court’s previous conclusion that Wang traveling at 53kmh did not constitute excessive speed, agreeing with prosecutors that speeding should count as an additional culpability factor.
Records show long history of traffic violations
Records showed Wang had a total of 25 driving offences on his record, with his most recent infraction prior to the crash occurring in 2019. Under the Road Traffic Act, Wang qualified as a repeat offender due to speeding convictions and fines paid in 1998 and 2004. Justice See noted that this history should have doubled the maximum penalty he could receive. The judge added that even if the earlier convictions were dated, a maximum S$10,000 fine would still fail to capture the gravity of Wang’s actions or act as a deterrent. Justice See also affirmed that the victims’ illegal parking and trespassing had no bearing on Wang’s culpability.
High Court increases sentence due to extensive offences
Why was Able Wang Ziyi’s sentence increased?
The High Court overturned the original district court fine after the prosecution appealed. Justice See Kee Oon ruled that the S$8,000 fine was manifestly inadequate and that Wang’s speeding and extensive history of driving offences warranted jail time.
What injuries did the victim sustain in the crash?
Wong Chong Ming suffered deep cuts to his left leg after being struck by either a motorcycle or the car. He was hospitalised for nine days and required two surgeries.
What penalties did the court uphold alongside the jail term?
Justice See upheld a five-year driving ban against Wang. The ban will officially begin immediately after Wang completes his two-week jail sentence.
Related reading