Cop fined $5k for causing woman grievous hurt while driving police vehicle in Geylang
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Pua Peng Siang was also disqualified from driving for five years.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
SINGAPORE – A police officer was driving a police vehicle in Geylang when he attempted to make an unauthorised U-turn
The collision caused grievous hurt to the passenger of the car, a 54-year-old woman who suffered facial fractures near her eye.
On Jan 26, Pua Peng Siang, 31, was handed a fine of $5,000 after he pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt by driving without consideration for other road users.
Pua, who is an assistant superintendent, was also disqualified from driving for five years.
On Jan 22, 2025, at around 10.20pm, Pua, who was on active duty, was driving a police vehicle in the left lane of a two-lane road along Cassia Link towards the direction of Old Airport Road.
As Pua approached a non-signalised junction, he failed to check his blind spot before changing lanes in an attempt to make an unauthorised U-turn.
The police car collided with a car travelling in the same direction in the right lane.
The impact caused the passenger in the other car to strike her face on the back seat, leaving her with fractures near her right eye.
She was taken to hospital conscious, and was subsequently given seven days of hospitalisation leave.
The court heard that the victim incurred more than $7,000 in medical expenses, for which a civil claim will be pursued separately.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Thaddeus Tan said Pua’s breach of traffic rules left the victim with fractures on her face, a vulnerable part of the body.
DPP Tan also noted Pua’s post-offence conduct as he had stopped to assist the victim after the collision.
However, District Judge Shawn Ho said Pua did what he was supposed to do after the accident, adding that there would have been additional charges if he had not stopped to help the victim.
In mitigation, Pua, who was not represented, said: “I understand the harm that I caused and I take responsibility for it.”
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that after the accident, Pua immediately assisted the injured party and called for an ambulance.
“Subsequently, the SPF initiated investigations against ASP Pua and he was redeployed to perform administrative duties. We will commence internal disciplinary proceedings against him,” said the SPF spokesman.
“Officers of the SPF are expected to exercise the utmost care for the safety of the public when carrying out their duties. We deal sternly with officers who break the law, including charging them in court,” the spokesman added.
If convicted of causing grievous hurt to another person by driving a vehicle without consideration for other road users, a first-time offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.
A repeat offender can be jailed for up to four years, fined up to $10,000, or both.
