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RASH ACT: Gill, 30, was jailed for six months and banned from driving for eight years. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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A MAN skipped town for Canada in 2003, while police were investigating an accident in which a pair of brothers seated in the car he was driving, died.
When he returned here to face the music in September last year, he was arrested at Changi Airport and charged initially with committing a rash act that resulted in the 2002 crash.
Dilveer Singh Gill, now 30, admitted negligently causing the deaths of Gurjiv Singh, 17, and Pardip Singh, 14, by driving at more than 90kmh along Changi Village Road, a 50kmh zone, on Dec 2, 2002.
Yesterday, he was jailed six months and banned from driving for eight years.
He admitted a second charge of remaining in Canada without a valid exit permit from May 8, 2006 until Sept 9 last year, for which he received a two-month jail term.
The sentences will run consecutively. Three other charges were considered.
Contacted yesterday, the boys' father, Mr Man Mohan Singh, 52, said justice had been done, but added: 'We cannot get back our loving children nor erase the memories. It remains our total loss.'
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Cheow Han said Gill was at the wheel. His close friend Jaspaul Singh, also the boys' cousin, was seated in front with him. Gill had taken over the wheel after a swim at the East Coast beach, and had told his three passengers to buckle up, DPP Lee told the court.
Just as the car hit 90kmh on the wet road, it veered right and a front tyre burst. Gill lost control as the car veered left, skidded and slammed into a tree.
The brothers, who were not belted up, were flung out of the car. Gill was reeking of alcohol at the hospital, but passed the blood-alcohol test.
Pleading for a fine instead of a jail term, his lawyer Tng Kim Choon said, had it not been for the blown tyre, his client would have stayed in control of the car.
He said it was 'unfortunate' his client had 61mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood two hours after the accident, nearly 20mg below the legal limit.
Mr Man Mohan Singh said Gill deserved a heavier punishment for causing the deaths of his two children.
'Dilveer and my nephew, Jaspaul, two supposedly wise adults, took my two young children to Changi Village Road to a lovers' park, on the pretext of watching planes land and take off. I hold them responsible for their deaths.'
He added that his wife missed their sons deeply, and now counted on him solely for companionship. Now 49, she even tried unsuccessfully to conceive another child four years ago.
Mr Singh, who said he was grateful for the support shown to him by his employer Singapore Airport Terminal Services, friends and relatives, said he now spends quality time with his wife, who is in a 'brittle' state and has a weak heart.
elena@sph.com.sg
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