SINGAPORE - A man who caused the death of a motorcyclist through his negligence was jailed for one week and banned from driving for three years on Monday (Oct 17).

Service engineer Yow Guang Yi, 30, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Malaysian Noor Helmee Roslan, 22, along the Tampines Expressway (TPE) at 3.37am on April 29.

He failed to keep a proper lookout while driving on the second lane of the four-lane expressway, thus causing his car to hit the back of the rider's motorcycle which was travelling in front of him.

Mr Helmee died the next day from trauma to the skull and brain.

Investigations showed that sometime before the accident, Yow was driving along the TPE while Mr Helmee was riding in front of him.

Yow did not slow down even when he was approaching the motorcycle. He failed to keep a proper lookout which resulted in the collision.

When his car hit the motorcycle, Yow swerved to the right and came to a complete stop on the second lane from the right.

Later, Yow waited for medical assistance to arrive. Mr Helmee was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where he died the next day from extensive craniocerebral injuries.

Yow's lawyer Michael Yap said in mitigation that the father of two drove to Johor Baru in the early hours of that day to pump petrol, wash his car and have supper.

He was driving along the TPE when he bent down and threw his head forward because of a bad cough.

In that momentary loss of attention, his car hit the back of the deceased's motorcycle, said the lawyer.

Mr Yap said his client is of good character and has participated in the country's nation building and community building activities for almost a decade, having taken part in six National Day parades.

He said Yow was affected so badly by the death that he could not go back to work and quit his job. He said his client had learnt his lesson.

He had urged the court to impose a large fine or a short custodial term.

Yow could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined for causing death by doing a negligent act.