GrabFood rider injures elderly man in e-scooter crash, given short detention order

Jegatheswaran Kalaiselvan was also ordered to perform 140 hours of community service within a year. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

SINGAPORE - A GrabFood delivery rider left an elderly man with a brain injury after piling into him on his e-scooter.

Jegatheswaran Kalaiselvan was zipping along a walkway near Block 152 Serangoon North Avenue 1 at around noon on Oct 21 last year when he failed to spot Mr Liaw Bok Chai, 75, coming down a flight of stairs.

Mr Liaw was later found to have suffered bleeding on the brain and a fractured cheekbone, although he has since made a full recovery.

Jegatheswaran, 22, was sentenced to a seven-day short detention order on Tuesday (July 16) for causing grievous hurt by riding the device in a negligent manner.

Under the order, offenders are put behind bars for a short time but will not have a criminal record after their release.

Jegatheswaran was also ordered to perform 140 hours of community service within a year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Yonghui said that Jegatheswaran was unable to stop the e-scooter safely and it collided with the elderly man.

For causing grievous hurt due to negligence, Jegatheswaran could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

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