Cyclist and lorry driver in viral Pasir Ris altercation charged in court

Both lorry driver Teo Seng Tiong (left) and cyclist Eric Cheung Hoyu face two charges. ST PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI

SINGAPORE - A lorry driver and cyclist allegedly involved in an altercation in Pasir Ris - captured in two videos that went viral - were charged in court on Wednesday (Jan 16).

Lorry driver Teo Seng Tiong, 57, faces two charges.

He is accused of causing hurt to cyclist Eric Cheung Hoyu, 35, by negligently failing to keep a proper lookout while overtaking him.

Teo's actions resulted in him encroaching into the path of a taxi on his right, thus causing him to swerve left and collide into Cheung, court documents stated.

The maximum punishment is a jail term of six months and a $2,500 fine.

The driver faces a second charge of failing to make a police report within 24 hours of the accident, which occurred at about 11.55am on Dec 22 last year along Pasir Ris Drive 3.

The offence carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to three months' jail for a first offender.

Cheung, a British national, also faces two charges.

He is accused of committing mischief by knocking off the side mirror of Teo's lorry with his hand, causing damage of $15.

The maximum punishment is a year's jail and a fine.

Cheung is also charged with breaching traffic rules by riding his bicycle in the middle of the leftmost lane, instead of keeping to the far left edge of the road, thereby causing obstruction to faster-moving vehicles.

A first offender faces a fine of up to $1,000 or up to three months' jail.

Teo's lawyer, Mr Chia Boon Teck, told the magistrate's court that his client was prepared to plead guilty in a week's time, adding that he will be asking the prosecution to consider taking one of the two charges into consideration.

The case was fixed for Teo to plead guilty on Jan 30.

Cheung's lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned so that he can discuss the case with his client and take instructions.

The court approved Cheung's request to leave Singapore to attend a planned family reunion in Hong Kong between Jan 17 and 22. Additional bail of $10,000 was imposed.

His case will be mentioned again on Jan 30.

Teo and Cheung did not have any interactions in court.

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