Mosque chairman jailed for inconsiderate driving, colliding with cyclist

SINGAPORE – To get to his destination, a man drove across four lanes and cut across a double white line at a junction near Sims Avenue East after he exited Lorong Sarina.

In his hurry, he failed to notice a cyclist who was riding along the road in the first lane and collided with the latter.

The cyclist ended up with multiple fractures and lacerations.

Mohammed Shahrin Shamsuddin, 55, was sentenced to three weeks’ jail on Feb 27 after he admitted to driving without consideration for other road users.

He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for five years.

Shahrin, who serves as the chairman of a local mosque, was involved in the accident around 11pm on March 11, 2024.

The court heard that he had just turned out from Lorong Sarina into Sims Avenue East, at a non-signalised junction, when he decided to switch from the fourth lane to the first lane.

While doing so, he cut across a lane with double white lines – which is against the road traffic rules.

As he approached the first lane from the fourth lane, he failed to notice that he had driven into the path of an oncoming cyclist, resulting in a collision.

The cyclist, 49, had fractures to his neck and collarbone. He was hospitalised for six days after surgery before being discharged with 49 days of hospitalisation leave.

The court heard that Shahrin had previous traffic offences, including speeding, inconsiderate driving and making an unauthorised U-turn.

Responding to The Straits Times on Nov 14, 2024, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said it was aware of the accident and charge faced by Shahrin.

Muis also urged all volunteers and staff of mosques to follow the laws in Singapore.