SINGAPORE - A motorcyclist caused the death of his mother who was riding pillion when he ran a red light at a cross-junction and rammed into a car.

On Thursday (Jan 25), Muzakkir Karim Mustaffa Kamal, 25, was sentenced to three weeks' jail and banned from driving all vehicles for four years.

He pleaded guilty to negligently causing the death of Madam Suraiya Abu Bakar, 47, by failing to follow the traffic red light signal at the signalised cross-junction of Tampines Street 34.

As a result, Karim's bike hit Mr Lee Wenbin's car, which was making an authorised U-turn from the opposite direction - Tampines Avenue 7 towards Loyang Avenue.

Karim was travelling along the three-lane Tampines Avenue 7 on Jan 22 last year when he ran a red light when approaching the signalised cross-junction of Tampines Street 34, a court heard.

The traffic light signal for Mr Lee, 29, was red with a right-turning green arrow. This was confirmed by an independent witness, a motorcyclist, who was in front of Mr Lee and wanted to make a right turn into Tampines Street 34.

Both Karim and his mother, who was unconscious, were taken to Changi General Hospital.

Despite surgery and intensive care unit management, Madam Suraiya did not improve and was pronounced brain dead on Feb 2.

Karim suffered a left wrist fracture.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jane Lim had sought a high fine of $8,000 and a driving ban of five years.

Pleading for a minimum sentence, Karim said the incident took place on the eve of his mother's birthday. He was happy to give her a lift to her appointment as she had bought him the motorcycle.

Now serving a sentence for an unrelated case of molestation, Karim assured the court that he would "never commit any single offence".

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