Jail for driver who injured two in car crash and was found to be part of organised crime group

SINGAPORE – While driving an intoxicated friend home in June 2024, Chuah Kah Ting felt sleepy, and crashed into a van and a car, injuring two people.

When the authorities searched Chuah’s car, they

discovered evidence for a second crime.

It turned out that Chuah was involved in an organised crime group that had defrauded telcos of about $289,000.

On July 14, Chuah, 23, was sentenced to 17 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to three offences, with six other charges taken into consideration for sentencing. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.

The Malaysian admitted to one count of driving without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, one count of acting as a member of a locally linked organised criminal group, and another charge of facilitating the group’s retention of benefits from criminal conduct.

The accident happened on June 11, 2024, at about 6am at a traffic junction of Yishun Avenue 6 and Yishun Avenue 1.

About two hours before, Chuah drank two to three cups of beer at a club in Orchard with his friend Benjamin Yong Dun Zheng, 29. Seeing that Yong was tired, Chuah decided to drive him home in his own car.

On the way, Chuah also felt sleepy and his eyes began to close. He ran a red light at the junction, and crashed into a van and a car, which were both turning right.

The collision caused the van to flip and land on its left side, its windscreen ripped off. The car had cracks and scratches on its rear.

The van’s driver, 60, and female passenger, 58, were sent to hospital.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Intan Suhaily Abu Bakar said Chuah caused grievous hurt to both individuals.

The van passenger sustained a brain injury and bruises on her body. She was discharged four days later and given 34 days’ hospitalisation leave.

However, she is not expected to have any difficulties in the long run from the injury, DPP Intan said.

Initial hospital scans showed the van driver’s shoulder was fine, but he subsequently dislocated it while attempting to flex it forward during a doctor’s review. He had to undergo surgery.

Court documents did not state if the car driver was injured.

After the accident, the police searched Chuah’s car and found multiple SIM cards which did not belong to him.

Investigations revealed he was involved in an organised crime group, where Yong was one of the ringleaders, along with two other men.

The group posed as directors of companies by buying National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) particulars, and searching publicly available business data of companies linked to these individuals.

They also forged particulars and documents in order to impersonate actual company directors.

The group ordered mobile phones from telcos and arranged for mobile phones to be delivered to the company. Then, they would intercept the orders and sell the mobile phones for profit.

The interception was done via runners who would collect mobile phones from deliverymen who were in on their scheme or from regular deliverymen, by using fake company stamps and letters of authorisation.

This scheme caused two telcos to lose about $289,294 in total when they did not receive payment from the actual companies.

Chuah was recruited by Yong and assisted the organised crime group between May and June 2024. He earned $500 in total before he was caught.

DPP Intan said: “It was fortuitous that the accused’s involvement came to an end when (he) was involved in a road traffic accident.”

Chuah’s pro bono lawyer, Mr Yip Jian Yang, said in court that Chuah came to Singapore in 2022 to work in the food and beverage industry.

When he was without work while in the midst of changing jobs, Yong asked him to assist with some errands, which resulted in him falling into crime.

Of the traffic accident, Mr Yip said Chuah was deeply remorseful for what happened.

Court records show that Yong has been charged but absconded. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.